Colibri Poppy Planting Guide

Arrival of Seeds

Biancheri Colibri® Poppies are a Premium product grown for their very large tissue/paper like flowers, high yields, and beautiful colours. These Icelandic Colibri Poppies (Papaver nudicaule) are not to be confused with Opium Poppies (Papaver somniferous), grown for green pods.

Our Colibri Poppy seeds are stored and shipped dry in a vegetative stage. If seeds are not sown immediately, store them in a cool and well-ventilated area.

Keep the seeds dry.
Do not expose to humidity.

Sowing & Germination

Sow in a free-draining sterilised medium, dusting the soil surface with fine vermiculite to provide a moist environment without covering the seeds which need light to germinate. Sowing with the moistened end of a toothpick is the best way to deal with these tiny seeds.
Ideal germination temperature is between +15°C and +18°C. Germination can be sporadic but can begin within 5-7 days. Do not allow soil to dry out during this period. Following germination, the plant is very sensitive to excess humidity, it is therefore recommended to avoid overhead irrigation and water from the bottom up.

Planting & Growing

Hardened off plants can be planted out after one month. They will tolerate a light frost, but frost protection is beneficial.
Plant in raised beds with spacing of 23-30cm.
Colibri poppies can be grown in greenhouses, tunnels, under shade or outside. This mainly depends on the climate and season.
Keep plants moist but not wet. Well drained soil is very important. Drip irrigation as opposed to overhead is also recommended.
Summer seeded plants, planted out in the autumn will overwinter and flower early summer to mid-autumn if picked regularly.

Additional tips

Watch out for slugs/snails and maintain low humidity by providing plenty of airflow.
Grow as cool as possible.
The perfect stage to pick Poppies is when the flowers are cracking.

Grower FAQs

Papaver nudicaule seeds require light to germinate, so they should not be covered with compost. Sow them on the surface, maintain a temperature of 15–18°C, and keep the growing medium consistently moist but not waterlogged. Germination can be irregular, so be patient as some seeds may take longer than others to emerge.

Yes. They grow well outdoors in well-drained soil and prefer cool conditions. Once seedlings have been hardened off, they can be planted outside and will tolerate light frosts, although some frost protection is beneficial during colder weather.

Young poppies are sensitive to excess humidity and overly wet conditions. Water from below rather than overhead, ensure excellent drainage, and provide good airflow around the plants to reduce the risk of damping off and fungal diseases.

Harvest stems when the flower buds have begun to crack open and the petal colour is just becoming visible. Picking at this stage gives the best vase life and encourages the plant to continue producing more blooms throughout the flowering season.