Papaver rhoeas - the corn poppy, red poppy or corn poppy - is an annual herbaceous species in the poppy family, Papaveraceae, notable as an agricultural weed. It is an erect annual growing up to about 70 cm in height, with stems holding single large and showy, 5 to 10cm across flowers with four petals that are usually vivid red, most commonly with a black spot at their base. Not all poppies that are available commercially have red flowers. Selective breeding has resulted in cultivars in yellow, orange, pink, and white, with the Shirley Poppy probably being the most known cultivar.
Water corn poppies when the top of the soil feels dry. Saturate the root zone thoroughly, as shallow waterings promote a shallow root system.
Apply a balanced liquid or granular fertilizer if newly emerging foliage has a yellowish appearance. Use the fertilizer in accordance with label recommendations. As a general rule, poppies require no supplemental fertilization if granular fertilizer or compost are incorporated into the soil at planting time.
Pinch off flowers as soon as they begin to fade. This process, called deadheading, prevents the plants from setting seed too early. Remove the bloom, along with the stem, down to the next leaf.
