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.
Red poppy flowers represent consolation, remembrance and death. Likewise, the poppy is a common symbol that has been used to represent everything from peace to death and even simply sleep. Since ancient times, poppies placed on tombstones represent eternal sleep.
Princess Louise has huge salmon-pink flowers in late spring. This oriental poppy is a superior seed grown variety.
Purple poppy: To remember animal victims of war. 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.
Symbol of Remembrance and Hope: In addition to its spiritual significance, the blue poppy has served as a symbol of remembrance and hope in times of war and loss. Its delicate petals and radiant hue are often associated with the resilience of the human spirit and the possibility of rebirth and renewal.
The white poppy, from the charity Peace Pledge Union, represents “remembrance for all victims of war, a commitment to peace and a challenge to attempts to glamorise or celebrate war”. You may also see other poppies in different colours, like blue, but these colours don't hold any significant meaning.
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.
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.
Opponents of the white poppy argue that the traditional red poppy already encompasses the sentiments claimed for the white poppy, such as "remembering all victims of war", and consider that it undermines the message of remembrance.
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.
Traditionally, the Poppy is worn during the Remembrance period, from the last Friday in October to the end of the day on November 11. Poppies may also be worn at other commemorative events throughout the year, during memorials and funeral services for Veterans or Ordinary members.
Most people are unaware that as well as the traditional commemorative red poppy there is also the purple poppy. It symbolises all animals who have served and/or died during conflict.
Wearing a poppy on this day has become a popular tribute tradition that was originally inspired by the fields of poppies that grew where many of the battles were fought. There has been a rise of different coloured poppies; including white, black, and purple.
Wearing a poppy (on the left breast or lapel) is more common in Australia on and around Remembrance Day, 11 November.
The Oriental poppy (P. orientale), native to the Middle East, has 15-cm (6-inch) scarlet, salmon, pink, white, or red blooms on 1.2-metre- (4-foot-) tall long-lived perennial plants. The white-and-red or white-and-pink Shirley poppy is an annual variety developed from the corn poppy (P. rhoeas).
It has been widely speculated that the five poppies represent each service in the war – Army, Navy, RAF, Civil Defence and women.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Use this resource to display in class and teach pupils about the symbolism of not only the red poppy, but the black poppy rose, the white poppy and the purple poppies that are also worn for Remembrance Day.
Purple Poppy Tattoo Meaning
The purple poppy tattoo also symbolizes wealth and prosperity. The Romans believed that purple poppy flowers brought wealth to people and were good luck charms in that way. If you wish to be rich, a purple poppy flower tattoo may just be one way of securing that belief.