Re: Glaucium Flavum



Cali Doxiadis wrote:

> Dear Nan--
> --I just saw a photo of yours on a google image search.  This is a plant
> I've seen thriving wild near beaches in Corfu but never managed to
> nurture in garden or controlled wild conditions.  This year for the
> first time I've had seed germinate in the cold frame, and they're just
> at the point when they need transplanting.  Should they be put in pots,
> do you think, or straight into the ground in semi wild conditions? Some
> shade or full sun? Once a week watering? My assistant in Corfu is
> awaiting instructions, and I don't want to blow it again this time!
> Thank you
> Cali
> (Still languishing in urban conditions)

Hi Cali,

I'll take the liberty of butting in as well because I'm the happy recipient
of some of Nan's Glaucium flavum seeds.  I sowed them as you would our
California native poppy, right where they were to grow, in autumn.  They
came up soon after one of our good soaking winter rains (last year).  With
nothing by the tip of my trowel, I was able to transplant a few seedlings
into bare rocky soil a few feet away. This was when they were +very+ small
- 1 inch (2 to 3 centimeters) wide.  Like all poppies, they seem to have a
tap root and not make it through transplanting after becoming larger.
Every one of my small seedlings survived and prospered, growing large and
blooming in the dry part of my garden. During summer it is irrigated only
by hand every week to 10 days.

This year my glaucium have produced seedlings of their own which I am
diligently moving about everywhere. The mother plants are all still going
strong; their frilly silver foliage serving as foil for small agaves, other
succulents, and lavenders of all kinds. Nan's particular cultivar blooms
apricot instead of yellow, mid to late spring. And every time I see them I
think of her!

So, if I were you, I'd get them transplanted to the drier and stonier parts
of the garden as soon as you can. Water them only until they start to grow.
Leave 12 inches or so (30+ centimeters) between them. They will be
wonderful!

I've only just learned from Moira's post that they are considered biennials
and I'll be interested to see if my 2 year olds die out after blooming of
if they are short-lived perennials.

Best luck!  Jan
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