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.

Papaver rhoeas or Red Corn Poppy as it is commonly known is an annual that is very easy to grow in the garden. It has an erect, hairy stem that bears bristly, pinnately divided leaves and delicate 7.5cm fire engine red tissue paper flowers with black centres. In summer, beautiful brilliant red flowers top the branching stems with downy leaves of this 90cm tall poppy. The foliage of the red poppy is inconspicuous, allowing exposure of the huge, brilliant flowers. This plant prefers full sun but will tolerate partial shade. This poppy is a very hardy plant that prefers loose soil, and will tolerate drought well. The fruit of the red poppy is a capsule containing black seeds. The plant re-grows strongly the following year if seed falls on bare ground. The red poppy is a symbol of America’s remembrance of its war dead.