Antique shades for a wildflower garden. Position: full sun Soil: well-drained, preferably poor soil Rate of growth: average Flowering period: June to August Hardiness: hardy annual An array of pink, white and lilac shades, which all have metallic-blue undertones, the flowers of this field poppy appear like luminous butterflies on top of the slender, hairy stems. Long after the last petal has fluttered away on the breeze, the seed-heads will continue to add a decorative touch to the border. Garden care:They tend to resent root disturbance, so sow shallowly, directly into a well prepared bed in spring and water well. As the seedlings develop, thin them out to 30cm intervals keeping just the healthiest and most robust plants. When watering, give the plants a really thorough soak when the soil gets dry, rather than a little water every day. Dead-heading will prolong the flowering period, but at the end of the season you should let some seed heads to develop for next years crop. Sow: March-May Flowering: June-August Approximate quantity: 1000 seeds.
