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Much to the dislike of my neighbours, I like to see what grows between the gap of my drive and the house. Most years its just Ladies Mantle and broadleaf weeds. However, this year I have 'grown' what I first thought was a common or garden red poppy but when it flowered, albeit, for a single day it resembled an opium poppy (pink with deep red towards the centre)
Does anyone know if these are native to this country - thats if it is an opium poppy :-)

Did you get a picture? Not that I "know" what opium poppies look like!


DeneciePie

I don't know either but wild poppies can certainly vary in colour and size. I'd do a google image search if I was you!

Dear Gray,

Have you tried cutting the seed pods to see if they ooze a milky sap? This is likely to be lacterium which is, I believe, the precursor of opium. It is also found in lettuce which has gone to seed, which is why the Flopsy Bunnies went to sleep in Mr McGregors' garden,

Love and Peace
Jim

t is also found in lettuce which has gone to seed, which is why the Flopsy Bunnies went to sleep in Mr McGregors' garden,

thats interesting, the 'bitter' lettuce I was complaining about had a milky sap, is it dangerous?

Dear Muscroj,

If you're a rabbit who goes to sleep in Mr McGregors garden you could have a nasty accident involving a pie dish. I have this on the authority of Beatrix Potter! However, I don't think there's enough active ingredient in lettuce to harm a human unless you eat about a wheelbarrow-ful!

Love and Peace
Jim

Doesn't seem to affect my chooks though I think 'high' hens might be good amusement value!

Mind you that might be why they are shrieking at me every morning for their lettuce fix, maybe they are suffering withdrawal symptoms!

Dear MMM

I never had you down as an avian drugs baron! Surprising what people will admit to!

Love and Peace
Jim

Opium Poppies can grow perfectly well in British climates but whether they are "native" I'm not sure. They would have been introduced to this country at some point surely?
Who knows.
Interestingly enough - did you know that last year the UK were the 11th largest growers of Opium Poppies!!

I seemed to have opened up quite a debate, what with 'avian drug barons' etc
I didn't get a picture in bloom too quick, Jim asked if the sap was milky however I cut open the seed pod and just got dried seeds - which I think I'll keep
Thanks for all the comments anyhoodles
Gx

We have grown the poppies as ornamentals using seed from the garden center. they have a very low thck rosette of leaves and enormous flowers. if the seed pod you cut was approaching small walnut size i would say it is a fair bet you have opium poppy.

jim wrote:Dear MMM

I never had you down as an avian drugs baron! Surprising what people will admit to!

Love and Peace
Jim

Shhhhhh don't tell anyone!

Whilst on the subjct of poppies, does anyone know which species of poppy is the kind which we use the seed for on breads etc? I keep wondering about this as I have plenty of wild poppies which I allow to grow here and there and always wonder whether I could be collecting the seed for culinary purposes. I don't want to fall asleep though after eating a sandwich!

EDIT: It's the Opium Poppy, duh! I think I'll buy some seeds. Now off to find out whether they're annuals or not.

what I'm dying to know is what you're going to do with it if it IS an opium poppy???

Going back to lettuces, the Romans used to serve lettuce at the end of feasts, because of its properties as a soperific - properties which have largely been bred out of it now.

And as far as I know (I used to work in the Metropolitan Police Library, and read everything they had on drugs) it doesn't get warm enough in the UK for opium poppies to produce proper opium - the seedheads just taste horrible and don't have the desired effect.