Poppy Black Peony

A poppy that commands attention. Black Peony produces huge, sumptuous blooms so densely packed with ruffled, silky petals that they more closely resemble a luxurious peony than a traditional poppy. Their colour is a deep, velvety maroon-black — a shade so dark it seems to absorb the light, creating a dramatic focal point against green or silver foliage.

The show continues long after the petals fall. Stout, upright stems clothed in glaucous blue-green leaves carry large ‘pepper-pot’ seed heads that are among the most prized in dried flower arranging — and a favourite of bumblebees, who crawl deep into the ruffled petals in search of the dark, nutrient-rich pollen within. Listed on the RHS Plants for Pollinators.

• Papaver somniferum 'Black Peony' — Hardy Annual (H5)
• Height: 90cm | Flowers: June–August
• Approximately 500 seeds per packet — sow direct, do not cover
• Full sun; well-drained soil, sheltered from strong winds
• Thin to 30cm apart for the largest flower heads
• RHS Plants for Pollinators listed
• Seeds are edible once pods are fully dry

Grow it with Ammi majus for a monochrome masterpiece — dark, ruffled heads against white lace is one of the most striking combinations in the summer garden.