Papaver Somniferum Pink Ruffles

Huge flowering heads appear in mid summer which produce a stunning display of saucer size flowers, white centered with a vibrant pink ring around the edge. I highly desirable plant not just for gardeners but also the local wildlife, especially bees which will spend the entire day swarming beds of these poppies. Papaver somniferum has a rich cultural and historical background. It has been cultivated for its seeds, which are used in culinary applications, and for the latex produced by the unripe seed capsules. The latex contains alkaloids, including morphine and codeine, leading to the historical use of the plant in the production of opiates for medicinal purposes. Today, the cultivation and use of Opium Poppies for the production of narcotics are tightly regulated.