White Flanders poppies are rare! Fresh white blooms stand out against other plantings and attract many pollinators. Petals are papery thin and silk-like.
While it is common to see red poppies worn in the UK during the Remembrance period, with millions sold each year, only around 100,000 white poppies are sold annually and they are more difficult to get hold of.
Rough poppy (Papaver hybridum)
The rarest of the poppies, with small red petals that carry a black spot at the base. Its seed capsule is globe-shaped and covered in stiff yellow bristles.
In this exceptional genus, dwarf bear-poppy (Arctomecon humilis) is the rarest — and perhaps most remarkable — species, due to its profusion of delicate white flowers and unique habitat. In many ways, the dwarf bear-poppy is a poster child for rare plant conservation.
White poppies were originally made in 1933 by the Co-operative Women's Guild. Today, true to its roots, the new design is made by a workers' co-operative in the UK. The new white poppy design is better for the environment.
She noted though that the white poppy is not meant to replace the red poppy — nor is it meant to be disrespectful. “It's not meant to be disrespectful at all. Many people wear both the red and white poppies together.
What do white poppies represent? White poppies represent three things: remembrance for all victims of war, both military and civilian. a challenge to any attempts to glamorise or celebrate war. a commitment to peace.
Once considered a myth, blue-poppies (Meconopsis 'Lingholm') are alive and thriving at Longwood Gardens. These spectacular flowers—which are native to the high elevations of the Himalayan Mountains—reside in our Conservatory where temperatures are kept cool to make the plants comfortable during their flowering season.
Some people think all poppies are red, but these spring bloomers come in yellow, white, orange, gold, blue, pink or purple, and there are different types, including Oriental, Shirley, Breadseed, Iceland (all Papaver spp.)
Most people think there is only one poppy to be worn for remembrance, but, in reality, there are four Remembrance Poppies which can be worn: Red, White, Purple and Black.
The most beautiful varieties of opium poppy are: 'Blue Moon' poppy: this poppy variety with huge flowers in pink, white with dark spots has large seed heads with deep blue, edible seeds. It reaches a height of 80 – 120cm.
State Flower
California Golden Poppy. Eschscholzia californica. The California golden poppy is bright orange with blue-green, fern-like leaves and grows in bushy clumps up to 2 feet tall and wide. Their flower petals can reach 2 inches long and 3 inches wide. Golden poppies grow throughout California.
Papaver somniferum (Paeoniiflorum Group) 'Pink Paeony' (Opium Poppy) is an upright annual boasting large, fully double flowers, 4-5 in. across (10-12 cm), densely packed with soft pink, crumpled petals. Blooming for weeks in summer, the ravishing blooms sit on top of stout stems clad with deeply-lobed, silvery leaves.
Some people feel the red poppy has become too political, and that some politicians have used the powerful feelings it creates to justify war. Others refuse to wear poppies because they feel there is too much pressure put on people to wear them.
The black seeds tend to be the most popular and are used in breads, puddings (such as the German Mohnstrollen), as a thickening agent and is also pressed to make poppyseed oil. White poppy seeds are more commonly used in Indian cuisine come from the opium poppy .
Arctic Poppy (Papaver radicatum)
Less commonly, pink or white flowers may be seen. The poppies grow wild across northern regions in rocky soils. Although rare in comparison to other poppies, their hardiness endears them to residents of these arctic zones, where few other plants thrive.
Red poppies might be the most common colour for Remembrance Sunday poppies, but there are other colours with different meanings as well.
While red poppies are most common, you might also see purple, black and white poppies being worn. Each colour has a different meaning about remembering the war.
Poppy flower colors range from white to vivid reds and oranges. There are cream, yellow, blue, and purple poppies as well.
Papaver somniferum (Paeoniiflorum Group) 'Black Beauty'
This almost black, fully double Poppy is absolutely stunning. Grow en masse or as a small clump planting to make a truly dazzling display. Hardy annual.
Fast-growing yellow wood poppies are a vibrant, hardy variety of poppy. They boast bright yellow or yellow-orange flowers and fuzzy, toothed leaves. This easy-to-care-for perennial makes a fantastic addition to shade gardens and thrives in cooler regions. Yellow wood poppy seedlings should be planted in the spring.
The Himalayan blue poppy, Meconopsis grandis, has sky blue-colored petals, although the anthocyanidin nucleus of the petal pigment is cyanidin.
Made by the Peace Pledge Union (PPU), the white or silver poppy represents all victims of all wars, including both civilians and members of armed forces. It is also a symbol of a commitment to peace and non-violent solutions, and challenges “attempts to glorify or celebrate war”.
White poppy seeds are the milder version of the two and is sometimes referred to as Indian poppy seeds because of the use of poppy seeds in Indian cooking as a thickening agent in making curries and other Indian dishes. Black or blue poppy seeds are the European counterpart.
Argemone albiflora, the white prickly poppy, also known as the bluestem prickly poppy or the Texas prickly poppy, is a small erect plant with a decorative white flower with a yellow latex.