Poppy 'Lauren's Grape' Seeds
Discovered growing in a garden by the famous designer Lauren Springer, this variety has become a cult classic. It produces large, bowl-shaped single flowers in a luscious, deep shade of violet-plum or rich burgundy. The petals have a silky, satin sheen and usually feature a darker spot at the base, surrounding a creamy circle of stamens.
Set against glaucous, silver-blue foliage, the dark flowers look incredible. But the show doesn't end when the petals drop. 'Lauren's Grape' produces magnificent, urn-shaped, blue-grey seed heads. These stand stiff and tall through autumn, looking like architectural sculptures in the winter garden or adding structure to dried flower arrangements.
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🌿 Understanding the Plant
Poppy 'Lauren's Grape' is a Hardy Annual.
It completes its life cycle in one season. However, it is a brilliant self-seeder. If you leave the seed heads to dry on the plant, the "pepper pot" lids will open and the wind will scatter thousands of seeds, ensuring you have a drift of purple poppies popping up year after year for free.
Top Tip: Like all poppies, it has a long taproot and hates being transplanted. Always sow it directly where you want it to flower.
🌱 Growing Guide: How to Sow and Grow
Poppies are fuss-free, but they need light to wake up.
Germination:
Sow directly outdoors in Autumn (Sept-Oct) for early, large plants, or Spring (March-May). Scatter the tiny seeds on the surface of raked soil. Do not cover them with soil—they need light to germinate. Just press them down gently. Germination takes 14-21 days.
Where to Sow:
They demand full sun and well-drained soil. They love sandy, gritty, or chalky ground. If your soil is heavy clay, mix in some grit.
Care While Growing:
Thinning is crucial: You will get hundreds of seedlings. You must thin them out to about 30cm apart. If you leave them crowded, you will get tiny, stunted plants. Be brave and pull them out to give the others room to grow!
📋 Plant Specifications
| Latin Name | Papaver somniferum |
| Common Name | Poppy 'Lauren's Grape' |
| Hardiness | H7 (Very Hardy Annual) |
| Light Required | Full Sun ☀️ |
| Height | ↕️ 75cm - 90cm (Tall) |
| Spread | ↔️ 30cm |
| Spacing | 🌱 30cm apart |
| Great for | 🍂 Dried Seed Heads 🐝 Bees & Pollinators 🎨 Dark/Gothic Themes 🏡 Cottage Gardens |
| Seed Count | Approx. 500 seeds per packet |
🤝 Perfect Garden Companions
The dark plum tones of 'Lauren's Grape' need light or contrasting colours to make them pop:
- ❄️ Ammi Majus (Queen Anne's Lace): Light vs. Dark. The white, airy lace of Ammi Majus provides a frothy background that stops the dark purple poppies from disappearing into the shadows. It's a sophisticated, high-contrast look.
- 🦐 Cerinthe (Honeywort): The Moody Mix. Cerinthe shares the same silver-blue foliage and purple tones. Planting them together creates a harmonious, cool-toned "moonlight" border that looks stunning at dusk.
📅 Sowing & Flowering Calendar
Sow directly outdoors in autumn or spring. Flowers early to mid-summer.
| Month | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sow Outdoors | 🟢 | 🟢 | 🟢 | 🟢 | 🟢 | |||||||
| Flowers | 🌸 | 🌸 | 🌸 |
⚠️ Vase Life Tip
If you cut poppies for the vase, you must sear the stem ends. Dip the bottom inch of the stems into boiling water for 10 seconds immediately after cutting. This stops the sap leaking and keeps the flower fresh for days.
🏆 Officially Recognised Excellence
Poppies are fantastic for biodiversity. The open, bowl-shaped flowers are easily accessible to bees, providing a rich source of pollen in high summer.
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£2.20 - Regular price
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£2.20
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