Reprinted from the San Francisco Chronical.

Common name: Breadseed poppy
Genus/species: Papaver somniferum
Family: Papaveraceae

Description: Breadseed poppies are one of the great pleasures of spring here in the Bay Area. Unlike the vast variety of other poppy species, like Flanders poppies or the ubiquitous Icelandic poppies, breadseed poppies send up thick flower stems that rise as high as 5 feet and produce five to 10 nodding flower heads. When the flowers do burst, overnight, from their casings, the gardener is treated to some of the most dramatic flowers in the plant kingdom. Most commonly, the brightly painted, bowl-shaped flowers contain four petals, each with a dark spot at the base, and can reach a diameter of 5 inches. There is also a peony-flowered variety, so named because the flowers resemble the double form of the peony, with a solid mass of frilly flowers.

As if this weren't enough to tempt any gardener -- and it is -- once the petals drop, one is left with a spectacular, instantly recognizable seedpod. A distinctive bluish-green, these capsules have a little crown of ridges ringing their tops.

Cultivation: Grow in deep, well-drained, fertile soil in full sun. Give sufficient water to increase both the number of flowers and their individual size. Although breadseed poppies gobble up the nutrients, their eventual show will be more than worth the proper environment. P. somniferums grow quickly, always a plus for the impatient gardeners among us. Although I buy mine each year in 4-inch pots, with a little care most poppies can be grown from seed. And with breadseed poppies, there is no shortage of seed.

Note: the seeds of this plant, when eaten raw, can cause mild stomach upset.

Pests: The most serious problem for these poppies is root rot. Excellent drainage is a must. And unfortunately, I've found that snails find the young leaves very yummy, so a snail deterrent is recommended. They can be prone to gray mold, but usually this is only a cosmetic issue. Once they get established, P. somniferums are very hardy.

Availability: At the risk of showing bias, Annie's Annuals is the place to get breadseed poppies. Starting in December and peaking in February, they carry as many as 15 varieties of these eye-catching annuals, all in budget-friendly 4-inch pots. Whether you find them at your local nursery, go to Annie's wholesale location in Richmond or order online (www.anniesannuals.com), you're sure to find an incredible variety of these poppies this time of year.

Comments: Anyone who has feasted on a yummy poppy seed muffin has eaten the seed of breadseed poppies thus the common name. But it's the flowers you're after, with names like 'Persian Princess,' 'Drama Queen,' 'Danebrog,' 'Taffeta,' 'Naughty 90s,' 'Pink Flamingo' and 'Raspberry Ripple' and colors that run the gamut from pure white to pale apricot to crimson red to the richest of burgundies. As a bonus, certain varieties feature deeply fringed petals, adding another delightful angle to their beauty.

These plants are showstoppers. Passers-by routinely gawk at mine when they're in full bloom, the tallest at their eye level. With their impressive variety, spectacular blooms and strange seed pods, breadseed poppies are one of the easiest ways to add a bit of architecture and a lot of dazzle to your garden.