Red poppies in the sunny evening light

Poppy is a genus of flowering plants. Poppy seeds often germinate in places where the soil has been disturbed, sometimes the whole area is then full of them. Several species occur wild in western Europe, known mainly for their red petals.

A well-known species is the sleeping bulb, Papaver somniferum, from which poppy seeds and opium are extracted. Opium and morphine are extracted from this species, among others. Opium is the dried white milk juice of this plant that contains a number of alkaloids of which codeine and morphine are especially important. Painkillers such as oxycodone are made from it. This species is also used as an ornamental plant.

Red poppies are a symbol of remembrance for soldiers killed in conflicts, especially in Commonwealth countries. This tradition began after World War I. White poppies are used as a symbol of peace and a commitment to non-violence. In classical mythology, poppies symbolise sleep and death, partly because of their calming properties. In iconography, the poppy is the attribute of Hypnos, the Greek god of sleep.

The poppy that grows in the Netherlands is mainly found on dry sandy soil that has been recently churned up, such as on railway embankments or on sand plains that have been raised. Poppies can self-seed, meaning they can spread naturally and reappear in the garden year after year. Poppy has no nectar glands, but provides high-quality pollen for honey bees, for example.