The poppy family (Papaver) includes fifty species of annuals and perennials with crinkled, cuplike blooms reminiscent of crepe paper. They come in numerous shades, both solid and bicolor, and in single or double form. Grow poppies in full sun in rich, very well-drained soil; standing water around the roots, especially in winter, can be fatal. Sow seed directly, since the poppy’s long taproot makes it difficult to transplant.
For all the beauty of their blossoms, poppies have coarse, hairy foliage that some find unappealing; they also go dormant after bloom. Plant poppies behind other ornamentals that will shield their leaves and fill in the gaps once they fade.