Papaver is a genus of 70 to 100 species of frost-tolerant annuals, biennials, and perennials native to temperate and cold regions of Eurasia, Africa and North America. It is the type genus of the poppy family, Papaveraceae.

The Shirley Poppy Double Mix is a hardy annual native to Europe. The plant is very easy to grow. The large 7-10cm blooms range in shades from white and pink, to red and are individually borne on erect hairy stems. It blooms at a time when the days are still cool and most other plants are weeks away from flowering. The foliage remains inconspicuous allowing the flower to express its full beauty. The plant is very delicate looking and long-lasting as a cut flower if the cut end is singed with a match flame as soon as it is cut.