‘Legion of Honor’ Heirloom Crimson Poppy Seeds

Legion of Honor turns a sunny bed into a field of luminous crimson. Silky, three-inch cups catch the light above finely cut foliage, their clear red color and nodding stems carrying the timeless character of a European corn poppy.

This frost-hardy annual is especially effective scattered through a meadow, cottage border, or broad informal drift. Bees visit the open flowers, and mature plants handle dry conditions with ease once their roots are established.

• Botanical name: Papaver rhoeas
• Cultivar: Legion of Honor
• Life cycle: Hardy annual
• Color: Crimson red
• Exposure: Full sun
• Sowing: Direct sow in cool fall weather or early spring
• Planting depth: Barely cover
• Germination: 7–14 days
• Mature height: 1½–2 ft.
• Final spacing: 4–6 in.
• Approximate seed count: 4,000

Thin early rather than transplanting, then let selected seedpods mature if you would welcome another spontaneous display next year. Explore more singular garden favorites in our flower seed packets.