The History and Culture of Poppies
Learn More About This Popular, Symbolic, and Addictive Plant
Jul 7, 2008
Like a yawn of fire from the grass it came, / And the fanning wind puff'd it to flapping flame. Francis Thompson
But the Poppy is painted glass; it never glows so brightly as when the sun shines through it. Wherever it is seen-against the light or with the light- always, it is a flame, and warms the wind like a blown ruby. John Ruskin
History and Legends
The poppy has been a popular subject for storytellers and writers throughout the centuries. From Virgil to Chaucer, poppies have received the limelight in literature. However, the most moving story about poppies comes from France during World War I. During the battle the soil was churned by the feet of horses and men exposing poppy seeds to the sunlight necessary for their germination. As a result, the fields were covered with the brilliant red blossoms of the corn poppy. Consequently, it became a symbol for those who lost their lives during WWI.
In addition to the corn poppy and the infamous opium poppy, there is also the Shirley poppy with its heartwarming story. In Shirley, a village in Surrey, England the Reverend William Welks enjoyed a field of corn poppies in the field behind his house. He noticed a poppy with white edges along the petals and marked it. When it went to seed he collected the seeds for his garden. Every year, he would weed out all the poppies that did not bloom with white edges. From the single plant that caught his attention, he created a wide array of brilliant hues in poppies.
Common Names
Poppies are almost universally known as poppies. In old English they were sometimes referred to as popples. There are three types of poppy that are particularly well-known. They are the Field Poppy/Corn Poppy, Opium Poppy, and Shirley Poppy.
Description
The leaves on all poppies are serrated or toothed. Poppies rise above the leaves on stalks that range from 8-36 inches tall where the crepe paper-like blossoms dance in the slightest breeze. Depending on the variety of poppy the colors can range from lilac, to pink, to orange, to scarlet.
Cultivation and Propagation
Poppies are grown easily from seed. Scatter the seeds on top of the soil, press in but do not cover as they need light to germinate.
Poppies prefer well-drained soil in a sunny location.
Culinary Uses
Poppy seeds have been a popular addition to food since Egyptian times. It is commonly used in baked goods for its texture and nut-like flavor.
Medicinal Uses
The seed capsule of the opium poppy gives off a milky latex which can be used for medicinal purposes. The latex is used in potent pain-killers such as morphine and codeine. However, the narcotic properties of opium poppies are dangerous and habit forming; as a result opium poppies are illegal for home-growing and use.
Other Uses
A surprising use to those who are familiar with the opium poppy as a drug is that of oil production. Oil can be extracted from the seeds of the opium poppy which is used in salad dressings, cooking, lamps, varnish, paint, and soap.
Sources
Houdret, Jessica. Practical Herb Garden. Hermes House, 2002
McVicar, Jekka. The Complete Herb Book. Kyle Cathie Limited, 1994.
Ward, Bobby J. A Contemplation Upon Flowers: Garden Plants in Myth and Literature. Timber Press, 2005.
Wells, Diana. 100 Flowers and How They Got Their Names. Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill, 1997
This article reports on the herbal properties of poppies. Opium poppies are restricted in most countries and cannot be grown by anyone but those who are licensed to do so. As a medication, products made from the opium poppy can only be given by licensed medical professionals.
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