Poppy
Papaver
Silky, cupped petals that unfurl from a fuzzy bud into a fleeting, luminous bloom.
Poppies are delicate theater. A hairy, nodding bud splits open to release petals so thin they look like crushed silk, glowing when the light passes through them. Iceland poppies in particular offer clear sherbet colors on wiry, expressive stems.
The blooms are short-lived and precious, which is part of their appeal; they bring a soft, ephemeral beauty to spring bouquets that longer-lasting flowers cannot quite replicate.
What Poppy means
Remembrance, restful sleep, and consolation — the red poppy especially a symbol of honoring those who are gone.
Care tips
Sear the freshly cut stem ends briefly in hot water or flame to seal the sap, which helps the blooms last longer.
Good for these occasions
Find a local florist who can arrange poppy for:
More flowers to explore
The flower florists reach for first — layered, fragrant, and available in nearly every color a message could ask for.
TulipA clean, cup-shaped bloom that keeps growing after it is cut — the unmistakable signal that spring has arrived.
LilyLarge, sculptural trumpets — often fragrant — that lend instant presence and grace to any arrangement.
SunflowerThe big, sunny face of summer — sturdy, long-lasting, and impossible to look at without smiling.