How to Grow and Care for Iceland Poppies

Iceland poppies (Papaver nudicaule) are flowering perennials that thrive in subarctic regions, but are often planted as annuals in warmer climates. The foliage is feathery and grows from fuzzy, leafless flower stems. Poppy flowers are brightly colored with four paper-thin, silky, and ruffled petals. The specific variety Iceland poppies can range in color from red to pink, orange, yellow, and even white.

Plant seeds in their permanent outdoor space in late winter or early spring. Though these very slow-growing plants germinate from seed fast, they can take a while to bloom and usually start in late spring to early summer. Like other poppies, Iceland poppies contain alkaloids that are toxic to humans and animals.

Iceland Poppies Care

Iceland poppies are cold-hardy plants, even with their delicate-looking blooms. These perennials are also excellent deer-resistant plants. Here are the main care requirements for growing Iceland poppies:

• Plant in full sun to part shade.
• Make sure the soil is rich and well-draining.
• Avoid watering too much or too little—Iceland poppies prefer evenly moist soil. Water near the soil to prevent damaging delicate blooms.
• Feed on a consistent schedule using a balanced fertilizer.

Light

Although they enjoy cool temperatures, Iceland poppies require a lot of sunshine. They can be grown in partial shade, too, if necessary.

Soil

Iceland poppies need rich, well-draining soil. Simply beware of fungal growth, as this can pose a problem for Iceland poppies; be mindful of watering, which can help to minimize any damage.

Water

Overwatering is usually the biggest issue with Iceland poppies, as soggy soil can cause blight of fungus. Create a consistent watering schedule, and ensure you're not drowning them when doing so.

Delicate Blooms

Avoid spraying water on the flowers and leaves, as the weight of the droplets can damage the delicate blooms. Water close to the soil.

Temperature and Humidity

Iceland poppies are hardy plants and enjoy cooler temperatures. They do not handle heat or humidity well; warmer climates pose a problem for this perennial as a result.

The only exception is when you start Iceland poppies from seed. To germinate, the seeds prefer a slightly warmer and moist climate. Once they sprout, however, they must be moved to a cooler, drier area with full light, or the warmer, humid environment could kill your new seedlings.

Fertilizer

Iceland poppies thrive from a consistent and frequent fertilizing schedule. Use a well-rounded, balanced fertilizer, such as 20-20-20, to give your plants the nutrients they need.

How often you fertilize depends on the soil. If you have rich soil, you may only need to fertilize once or twice per growing season. Otherwise, your poppies will appreciate consistent food; aim for every other week or so.

Types of Iceland Poppies

Many varieties of Iceland poppies come in colorful seed mixes fitting for cottage gardens, examples include:

• ‘Champagne Bubbles' Mix: This variety grows 15-20 inches high with 3-5 inch blooms in USDA zones 4-9. The blooms are a color mix of orange, pink, red, white, and yellow.
• ‘Meadow Pastels’ Mix: This pastel-colored variety grows 24-28 inches tall and 18-24 inches wide in USDA zones 5-9. The blooms are soft shades of yellow, apricot, pink, and white.
• 'Gartford Giants’ Mix: This Iceland poppy variety has 4-inch flowers that bloom in red, pink, orange, yellow, and white. They grow 12-24 inches tall in USDA zones 3-7.
• 'Wonderland' Mix: This dwarf variety grows 18 inches tall and 4 inches wide in USDA zones 2-7. Flowers bloom in shades of pink, red, orange, yellow, and white.

Pruning

To keep your Iceland poppies healthy and continually blooming, be sure to deadhead them, or remove old blooms. This will encourage your poppies to produce more flowers.

How to Grow Iceland Poppies From Seed

There are two ways to grow Iceland poppies from seed: You can put the seeds directly into your garden where you want them to grow (the less ideal method), or start them in containers.

Harvest Seeds

Harvesting seeds is all the same for both methods.

1. Save seeds from plants by picking the pods after flowering, when they start to go from green to brown and the crowns begin to open.
2. Dry pods upside down in a paper bag in a dark, cool space for a few weeks.
3. The seeds will fall from the pods and gather in the bag.

Direct Sow Method

To sow seeds directly in the ground, plant them in the fall or the early spring.

If planted in the fall, they will stay dormant throughout the winter. When spring begins to warm the soil, the small seeds will germinate and appear as soon as it is warm enough.

For early spring planting, sow seeds as soon as the ground is workable for the same results.

Container Method

Iceland poppy seeds need tender loving care when sowing in containers. They require a warm environment for germination.

1. Sprinkle the seeds on the top of the soil.
2. Lightly cover seeds with dirt or, more ideally, vermiculite or sand. Do not to cover them too deeply.
3. Make sure the soil is continuously moist, but not soggy.
4. Once seedlings appear, move the plants to a cooler area with plenty of light.
5. Once the first set of adult (or true) leaves appear, harden them off by placing them in an unheated garage or greenhouse.

It is important to note that Iceland poppies have extremely delicate root systems and do not always do well when transplanted, especially if they become root-bound in their pots. A rough transplant can easily kill poppies. Take care not to damage the root system when transferring poppies from their growing container to a garden.

One workaround for this delicate plant is to sow seeds in biodegradable nursery pots. This way, the pot can go directly into the ground without having any roots disturbed.

Common Plant Diseases

Watch for the threat of poppy blight, which appears as a whitish-gray fungus on the stems and bottoms of the leaves. Use fungicide and trim away weathered parts of the plant.

How to Get Iceland Poppies to Bloom

Bloom Months

Iceland poppies bloom from late spring to early summer from May to July. New blooms will stop in hot and humid conditions.

What Do Iceland Poppies Look and Smell Like?

Iceland poppies have large cup-shaped flowers with delicate, papery petals. The blooms can be up to 4 inches wide. These poppies come in a wide range of colors including pink, red, orange, yellow, and white. The blooms have a light, sweet fragrance, and they attract pollinators such as bees, butterflies, and birds.

How to Encourage More Blooms

Encourage more blooms by deadheading Iceland poppies' spent flowers. Iceland poppies also prefer cool spring weather with temperatures around 70 degrees Fahrenheit or below to thrive and bloom.

Common Problems

Wet, humid conditions, poorly drained soil, and overwatering can affect the health of Iceland poppies. Watch out for these issues.

Gray Mold

Gray mold on flowers, leaves, and stems could be a sign of botrytis, a fungus that grows in cool and wet weather. Remove affected plants and apply a fungicide, space out plants to improve air circulation, and water close to the soil.

Curled Leaves

Powdery mildew grow in humid conditions with poor air circulation. Leaves will have white or gray fungal growth and may curl. Space out plantings, remove affected areas, and apply a fungicide.

Root Rot

Overwatering and poor drainage can lead to root rot. Ensure the soil is well-draining and water plants consistently without overwatering.

From: thespruce