Poppy Lilac PomPom

Papaver somniferum 'Lilac PomPom' Lilac PomPom Poppy 'Lilac PomPom'

Huge fully-double pom-pom blooms in soft lavender-pink, densely packed with hundreds of finely-ruffled silky petals that look like miniature peonies or pastel powder-puffs — held above silver-blue glaucous foliage, followed by magnificent architectural pepper-pot seed heads. 'Lilac PomPom' is the most romantic of the cottage Papaver somniferum varieties and one of the very best double poppies you can grow from seed.

This is the soft romantic counterpart to the moody dramatic 'Black Peony' and 'Lauren's Grape'. 'Lilac PomPom' produces enormous fully-double pom-pom blooms in soft lavender-pink, densely packed with hundreds of finely-ruffled silky petals that create a powder-puff or miniature-peony effect. The pastel colour is genuinely beautiful — clear lavender-pink, neither too cool nor too warm, suited to almost any cottage palette. The plants share the characteristic silver-blue glaucous foliage of the Papaver somniferum family, and after the petals fall produce the same magnificent large pepper-pot seed heads that are equally valuable for autumn architecture and dried-flower harvest. We grow 'Lilac PomPom' specifically at Salle Moor Hall Farm for our dried flower range — the seed heads are among the most reliably architectural in our autumn cutting. Hardy annual. Height 75–100cm.

A note on growing

Like all poppies, direct sow only (sensitive taproot, no transplanting). Direct sow March–May or September–October. Autumn sowing recommended for stronger, earlier-flowering plants the following year.

Rake to fine tilth, scatter on the surface, do not cover (light required). Press firmly into soil. Germination 14–21 days. Full sun, well-drained soil. Don't feed. Crucial thinning step: thin to 30cm apart when seedlings are 5cm tall. Without thinning, double-flowered poppies remain spindly with much smaller heads.

⚠️ Toxicity warning: all parts toxic (except fully-dried mature seeds). Keep away from children and pets.

Where it shines

In romantic cottage borders for soft pastel drama — the powder-puff form provides far more visual substance than single poppies while maintaining cottage informality. As one of the most prized cottage cut flowers (with proper handling — cut in early bud, sear stem ends immediately). In dried-flower harvesting, where the pepper-pot seed heads are exceptional. In wedding floristry, where the soft lavender-pink reads as designer-quality. In any cottage cutting garden that wants both fresh romantic flowers and architectural autumn-winter seed pods.

Plant alongside

For a soft romantic Papaver somniferum scheme, combine 'Lilac PomPom' with Cosmos 'Apricotta' (matching pastel warm-tone romance) and Achillea 'Pastel Mixed' (matching soft cottage palette). For multi-tonal somniferum drama, pair with Poppy 'Lauren's Grape' (deeper grape-purple contrast) and Poppy 'Black Peony' (matching double form, contrasting dark colour). For cottage wedding cutting, plant alongside Ammi majus, Cosmos 'Daydream' and Antirrhinum 'Sweet Duet Apple Blossom'.