Everything You Need to Know About Poppies for Your Wedding

[[opening: When it comes to choosing your wedding flowers, there's a lot to learn. Every Tuesday, we'll feature all you need to know about an in-season flower. From colors and care to costs and all sorts of wedding floral design inspiration, we're your "best bud." This week's flower is the poppy.]][[wide_card_image_id: 93935]][[tall_card_image_id: 93926]]

This week's flower is the poppy.

Flower name: 

Poppy (Scientific name: Papaver somniferum) 

Season: Summer 

Colors available: White, pink, red, orange, and yellow 

Care: Before trimming your poppies, put on protective gloves, as the poppy excretes a liquid when cut that can irritate skin. After cutting your poppies to the desired length, treat the cut ends of the stems by placing them in boiling water for a few seconds or gently searing the bottoms using a match. This process will allow the poppies to retain more moisture and last longer. Once you've treated the stems, arrange poppies in a vase or bouquet. 

Fun fact: Although poppies have traditionally been recognized as a symbol of sleep, peace, and death, their bright and cheery look will add a pop of color to your wedding bouquet. And don't worry -- centerpieces that incorporate poppies won't put your guests into a deep eternal sleep like in The Wizard of Oz.

Average wholesale cost: About $2-$5 a stem 

Why we love: Poppies are vibrant and fun! Their full petals and wiry stems make them easy to work with, and they will add a lush look to your bouquet or centerpieces. We love the idea of pairing poppies with tiny white daises and colorful ranunculus.