The paper-like blossoms and vibrant colors of the poppy flower have been gracing flowerbeds and fields for centuries. These iconic flowers can get a bad rap for their hand in the opium trade, which is not helped by the everlasting-sleep scene depicted in The Wizard of Oz. But not all poppies are bad! Coming in more than one hundred different varieties and colors, the poppy flower will add a splash to your garden.
The recorded history of the poppy flower dates back to 2700 BC, when it was grown and cultivated in the Mediterranean Basin for its medicinal and recreational useprimarily as a mild sedative. Now found all over the world, its pain-relieving properties are the base source from which morphine and codeine may be extracted.
Poppies played a significant role in ancient mythology and medicine. They have been found in Egyptian tombs dating back thousands of years and are believed to have been associated with ancient Egyptian veneration of gods. They were featured in their jewelry and furniture. Ancient Greeks regarded poppies as a source of fertility, health, and strength. Greek Athletes consumed a mixture of poppy seeds, honey, and wine to improve performance. In Greek mythology, the poppy flower is associated with Morpheus, the god of sleep and dreams. In fact, the drug morphine, which is derived from poppies, is named after the Greek god, Morpheus. The Greek gods are believed to have given Demeter, goddess of agriculture and harvest, poppies to help her sleep (She was upset because her daughter, Persephone, had been abducted by Hades, god of the underworld.) Subsequently, poppies sprang up from Demeters footsteps. Poppies were found at the cave of Hypnos, the god of sleep. Nyx, the goddess of night, and her brother, Hypnos, the god of sleep, are also associated with the poppy flower symbol. Predating Greek mythology, the Assyrians called the poppy daughter of the fields for its association with agriculture and its ability to give nourishment to the soil and grains, a symbol of life, fertility, and death.
