4 Things you didn’t know about Poppies
Today we celebrate the 75th anniversary of VE Day, the end the fighting in Europe during World War II. People across the county are donning their homes with the British flag and remembering all those who fought to keep us safe. The poppy is a symbol of remembrance, as this was the flower that grew on the lands which had been completely destroyed by the war. We thought we’d share with you some interesting facts about poppies which you may not have known.
Not all poppies are red
When we think of poppies, we instantly think of the colour red. However, there are several types of poppy that come in a range of different colours. The poppy we use to signify remembrance is the corn poppy, also known as the Flanders poppy, but other types such as the Iceland poppy and Mexican poppy come in all bright colours including yellow and pink.
They can be found all over the world
Poppies aren’t just a European flower, they can be found growing wild in different countries across the globe. Although believed to have originated in the Mediterranean region, the ‘opium poppy’ can be found growing wild in southern Asia and south eastern Europe.
They’ve been around for a while
The first mention of poppies dates back to the Ancient Greeks. In ancient writings it was known as the poisonous or magic plant and was often used during religious ceremonies. The poppy was used for medicinal reasons, as I’m sure we’re all familiar with the history of the effects of opium, a liquid found in poppy plants. There is even a ‘Poppy Goddess’ dating back to 1100 BC who can be seen with her hands raised and opium poppy placed around her crown, the poppy was said to symbolise ‘Eternal Sleep’. There also poppies found in Tutankhamun’s tomb.
They don’t really have a scent
Unlike many flowers the poppy isn’t known for its scent. If you want to plant for fragrance, maybe give poppies a miss as they have been said to smell earthy, or have more of a ‘smoky’ smell to them. In reality, the smell of the poppy has been ‘invented’ by perfume manufacturers and it has one of the lowest rate of scent usages in lotions and perfumes, unlike flowers such as roses.
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