Papaver orientalis

We have three strains of this giant poppy in our garden, a strong red, an orange and a softer, pinker red. They appear without fail each summer and I photograph them without fail each summer. Last year I actually remembered to collect seed heads in the autumn and hope to propagate this beautiful bloom to other parts of the garden (and probably those of our neighbours…inadvertently). Yes, you can collect the seeds of P orientalis. Leave the heads to dry on the plants but snip them off before it gets too windy. Once they’re dry you should be able to crack the seed capsules open and scatter the tiny black seeds wherever you’d like a new crop of these beautiful and oh so photogenic poppies.

Poppy stamens by David Bradley