There are about 250 species of poppies grown across the world. They belong to the poppy family, Papaveraceae, which includes 23 genera, distributed mainly in the northern temperate hemisphere. Their delicate flowers are usually large.
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.
Flowers can be smaller than a thimble or larger than a dinner plate - plus they come in colors from translucent white through ivory, yellow, golden, orange, and red, even ranging into shades of blue and purple. Botanists divide poppies into almost 800 species grouped into 42 genera.
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.
Longwood uses a growing technique to force the blue-poppies to flower every year in March. The cultivar, “Lingholm,” produces large flowers that average 4 inches in diameter. “Meconopsis” is the genus of the rare flower. The blue-poppy is so unusual it was once considered a myth.
Most people are unaware that as well as the traditional red poppy worn to mark the Armistice Day of 11 November 1918, that there is also the purple poppy, remembering animals that died during conflict.
The purple poppy is often worn to remember animals that have been victims of war. Animals like horses, dogs and pigeons were often drafted into the war effort, and those that wear the purple poppy feel their service should be seen as equal to that of human service.
Papaver rhoeas 'Amazing Grey'
Unique and wondrous. The paper-like petals of this semi-double Shirley poppy delicately float in moody deep grey shades. As with all poppies, 'Amazing Grey' will self-seed and flower again the following spring making it the perfect bit of perpetual romance for a flower garden.
A Taliban spokesman told the BBC they imposed the ban because of the harmful effects of opium - which is taken from the poppy seed capsules - and because it goes against their religious beliefs.
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.
The enchanting Blue Poppy (Meconopsis) creates a spectacular show in the late spring and early summer. Such a rich true blue flower is a rare garden treasure. Blue Poppies have a reputation of being difficult to grow, but these plants can be grown successfully if you follow a few basic guidelines.
Princess Louise has huge salmon-pink flowers in late spring. This oriental poppy is a superior seed grown variety.
The Black poppy is a fairly recent addition, having only been launched in 2010. Selena Carty set it up and it is worn to remember black, African, Caribbean and Pacific Islanders who lost their lives at war.
The reason royal ladies - who also include Queen Consort Camilla and the Princess of Wales - wear multiple poppies has never been confirmed by the palace. One theory is that they wear multiple brooches in honour of family members who have fought and died in wars.
While Buckingham Palace has never confirmed the reason for the monarch's preference, it is thought that Her Majesty's five poppies represent each service in the war: the Army, the Navy, the RAF, the Civil Defence and women.
Black. The black poppy is most commonly associated with the remembrance of black, African, and Caribbean contributions to war efforts dating back to the 16th century. The initiative, titled “Black Poppy Rose”, was launched in 2010 and aims to make the black poppy a nationwide symbol of remembrance.
In Australia and other countries of the Commonwealth, we recognise the red poppy as the commemorative flower of remembrance. The flower reminds us of those who lost their lives or suffered in wars, conflicts and peacekeeping operations.
What is the significance for Australians? The Red Poppy has special significance for Australians. Worn on Remembrance Day (11 November) each year, the red poppies were among the first to flower in the devastated battlefields of northern France and Belgium in the First World War.
The poppy was deemed offensive because it was assumed to be connected with First and Second Opium Wars of the 19th century.
In 2013 the Australian War Animal Memorial Organisation (AWAMO) introduced the purple poppy to Australia; it is sometime referred to as the “Animal Poppy”. Purple poppies are designed to be worn alongside the traditional red one as a reminder of their bravery and that both humans and animals served together.
Opium poppy (Papaver somniferum) is regarded as an environmental weed in Victoria, the ACT and Tasmania. As well as being a weed of crops and disturbed sites, this species invades natural habitats.
Wearing a poppy
Increasingly, red poppies are widely used by Australians as a sign of remembrance, and are placed on war graves or next to names of soldiers engraved on memorials. Wearing a poppy (on the left breast or lapel) is more common in Australia on and around Remembrance Day, 11 November.
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.
Other colours of poppy have their own meanings: - Pink poppies symbolise compassion and platonic love. - Orange poppies stand for health and regeneration. - Yellow poppies represent optimism and the ability to look on the bright side as well as positive memories of people who have died.
It is thought that the red of the petals represents the blood of those who gave their lives, the black button in the middle is for the mourning of those who never welcomed their loved ones home and the green leaf shows the hope that the grass and crops growing after the war brings.