I WS white peony poppies last year & grew them in a container to see if I liked them enough to find a spot in a bed for more. That was it. That ratty foliage + short bloom sealed their fate. Anything I put effort into growing has to reward me for the hard work and those just don't. Other short-blooming perennials with stunning flowers at least have foliage that stays decent or else dies back & out of sight the rest of the season.

Yeah, I am coming around to that feeling Eileen!!! or maybe a half way stance - - BUY poppie seed and throw it out there in late winter. This way I can just pull the spent plants once they bloom, not having to look at this incredibly sad mess.

I do love the peony poppy flowers I've got, but the bloom time sure is quick. We were on vacation from 7/13 to 7/28 and they were ready to burst when we left, completely done when we returned. It just might be that the spot I have them in is baking hot and thye don't love it.

Last year was my first to WS and I ordered seeds from Hazzards. I posted a picture of one in bloom and everyone loved it but the overall experience was a huge disappointment. Now I'm a bit more thorough when I research a new-to-me perennial I might want to WS. What works best for me are things that are tough as nails, long-blooming and low-maintenance. The only things I baby a bit are hydrangeas & astilbe--I water those during the hot, dry summer months. Most everything else has to thrive on neglect.

Annual poppies do have a short bloom period. But the pollinators absolutely love the rich pollen in the blooms. And they're gorgeous! Last year I direct-sowed them in March, but didn't sow any this year because I couldn't get the bed prepped in time due to shoulder tendonitis.

I pulled the plants when the blooms were done. Can you pull up all but a few seed pods?

'Can you pull up all but a few seed pods?' Not a bad idea considering there's gazillion seeds in each pod, eh?

I'm having trouble with seed saving too. They keep shriveling down to nothing.

Poppies are poopie. They're always small and disappointing and the flwoers last a DAY and then they're a hot mess. I don't even think Ill bother again.

Im cutting them off BEFORE they make any seeds.

I never really see this problem with mine..

However, I grew Candy Mountain foxglove a couple years ago.. the blooms were everything I thought it would be , lush fantastic color,

Then a week after flowering the entire plant basially turned brown.. nothing like the classic excelsior strain or camelots I grow. Regardless of the color of the bloom, no way I was keeping that in my garden, I pulled it all before it could set seed.

To each thier own, grow what works for you.

Silverkelt