Legion of Honor turns a sunny bed into a field of luminous crimson. Silky, three-inch cups catch the light above finely cut foliage, their clear red color and nodding stems carrying the timeless character of a European corn poppy.
This frost-hardy annual is especially effective scattered through a meadow, cottage border, or broad informal drift. Bees visit the open flowers, and mature plants handle dry conditions with ease once their roots are established.
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Botanical name: Papaver rhoeas
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Cultivar: Legion of Honor
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Life cycle: Hardy annual
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Color: Crimson red
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Exposure: Full sun
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Sowing: Direct sow in cool fall weather or early spring
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Planting depth: Barely cover
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Germination: 7–14 days
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Mature height: 1½–2 ft.
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Final spacing: 4–6 in.
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Approximate seed count: 4,000
Thin early rather than transplanting, then let selected seedpods mature if you would welcome another spontaneous display next year. Explore more singular garden favorites in our flower seed packets.
