Poppy (Papaver Rhoeas Pandora) - This brilliant new corn poppy is a colorful choice. "Pandora", a strikingly lovely, color-laden 15 - 25 inch tall long lived poppy which sets impressive flowers with crepe papery, tissue-like petals in surprising combinations of shades, from deep burgundy red to pinkish red, with silver-grey stripes on the lower petals. Surface-sow seed in sunny garden bed in winter, early spring, and late autumn for an extended bloom period. "Pandora" poppies will thrive in prepared, well-drained, fertilized soil.

This hardy annual offers late spring and summer interest, with attractive black seedpods extending the season of interest. The showy saucer-shaped blooms change colors gradually and attract birds and bees to the garden and make lovely cut flowers if stems are singed before placing it in water.

Pandora is a Papaver rhoeas cultivar, which is also known as the common poppy, corn poppy, field poppy, or Flanders poppy. The plant has a clumping, spreading habit and is best displayed when grouped or massed in borders or beds.

Easily grown from seed and extremely low maintenance, 'Pandora' Poppy prefers full sun and organically rich, medium moisture, well-drained soils. It is intolerant of drought and overly wet, poorly drained soils. Growing best in cool summer climates, it does not perform well in high heat and humidity and may require some light afternoon shade in hot summer climates. Deadheading spent flowers keeps the poppy blooming. The flowers freely self-seed in suitable conditions, naturalizing and returning from year to year, performing more like a perennial than an annual. Deer and rabbit tend to leave papaver rhoeas alone.