Poppy

Poppy

Poppies are cute, high-quality florals that are often part of ornamental gardens. These blooms are also favourite in arrangements for weddings and other occasions. They are stunning blossoms with some of the most interesting meanings too. Let’s get to know poppies more in the rest of this article.

About Poppy

Poppy is an herbaceous flowering plant that can grow up to four feet. They feature flower buds that have four to six petals, based on the variety. Its blooms are in various colours, like white, pink, red, yellow, purple, blue, green, and grey. They usually bloom in the late spring and the early summer. Poppy petals often lay flat before they die away.

Scientific Name of Poppy

Poppy is a flower belonging to the Papaveroideae, a subfamily of the Papaveraceae family. Different species of the flower have other scientific names. Out of its many species, the most common is Papaver somniferum, the poppy that is the source of the drug poppy that contains morphine.

Origin and History

Some of the species of poppy were thought to be found initially in some regions in the Mediterranean. Many varieties of the flower are also found in parts of southern and eastern Asia and south-eastern Europe. Poppies are commonly used for medicinal purposes, with the seeds being the source of the drug opium. In other cultures, the seeds can also be used as an analgesic. Due to the effects of opium, Native American Indians call the buds of a poppy “the happy flower.”

Meaning and Symbolism

One of the familiar symbolism of the poppy flower is how it’s used to remember or honour war heroes. During World War 1, a trench warfare happened in a field of poppies, leading to the flower being used as a symbol of peace. Meanwhile, it symbolises rest, beauty, and success in Chinese culture. On the other hand, red poppies signify Christ's sacrifice. The flower is also associated with Greek mythology, representing the Greek god of dreams, Morpheus.

Arrangements

Many gardeners and homeowners love to plant poppies in their gardens. With the flower’s varying colours, poppies add life to any backyard. But besides being grown as garden plants, poppy bouquets and arrangements are popular for any occasion, such as weddings, anniversaries, birthdays, and more.