Poppy Flower Symbolism Facts & Meaning: Zodiac, Superstitions, Dreams, and Legends
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Poppy Flower Facts
The Poppy Flower is one of the most recognizable flowers, especially in the western world. The Poppy is a delicate-looking flower that has played significant roles in world events for the past millennia.
Poppies belong to the family Papaveraceae with over 70 species of the flower. It was cultivated for thousands of years, and the earliest evidence found was in Mesopotamia as an ornamental plant. Today, they can be seen from the Americas, Europe, to Southern Asia.
The flowers grow on solitary stalks with milky sap. They blossom into showy vibrant paper-mache-like petals from nodding buds. The different species of Poppies are both natural and cultivated to come in a plethora of vibrant colors like white, lilac, pink, red, violet, blue, and even gray!
Poppies are mainly found in the Northern Hemisphere but can also grow in temperate areas. They are short-lived perennial or biennial flowers that bloom in cooler seasons, mainly between April and June.
Over many years, the Poppy Flower evolved in its use as a simple ornamental flower, due to its medicinal properties. The Poppy species papaver somniferum, commonly known as opium Poppy, is where opium is extracted as a source of opium used in narcotic drugs and has become a controversial species of the flower.
Poppy seeds are banned for their small opium content, along with the potential to grow opium Poppies in countries such as China, Taiwan, and Singapore.
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Poppy Flower Uses
Because of their striking colors, patterns, and delicate shapes, Poppies are widely sought-after flowers for use in the garden and ornamental plants. Through the centuries, Poppies have been commercially cultivated into a wide variety of colors for gardening and home decorations. They were used as ornamental flowers as early as 5,000 BC in Mesopotamia.
Poppy seeds have been harvested as edible seeds used in bread and food for thousands of years. They can be found in traditional recipes, specifically in Mediterranean and middle-eastern diets. Today, Poppy seeds are gaining popularity in the United States as an ingredient in pastries and salads. Poppy seeds are great additions to a recipe because of their high nutritional value in essential vitamins and minerals.
Poppy seeds are also harvested for their oils and used as a healthier substitute for cooking oil and moisturizers. Poppy seed oil is mainly used in the manufacturing of products such as paints, soap, and varnishes.
The Poppy Flower, specifically the opium Poppy, was used as a medicinal plant by ancient cultures like the ancient Greeks and Sumerians. During the United States Civil War, opium was used to help soldiers who were fighting in the war. They are beneficial as painkillers, cough suppressants, anesthesia, and the alleviation of diarrhea.
Opium is widely used today as a highly regulated narcotic drug used to make derivatives such as morphine, heroin, codeine, and oxycodone. Unfortunately, these drugs are highly addictive and are commonly abused and misused throughout history.
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Poppy Flower History
The Poppy Flower was used as ornamental decorations in Mesopotamia as early as 5,000 BC. It was believed that the Sumerians were the first civilization to use opium from the Poppy as pain relieving medicine which then spread throughout neighboring areas and the Mediterranean.
Poppy seeds are also found in ancient Egyptian tombs and the image of the Poppy was decorated on ancient Egyptian jewelry.
Opium itself has a long and varied history spanning the globe, involving wars between Britain and China, a ban in the United States plus other countries, and smuggling of the substance into prohibited territories. The opium Poppy today is highly regulated as a powerful alkaloid drug.
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Poppy Flower Positive Symbolism
Poppy Flowers carry a great deal of symbolizing peace and remembrance. Red Poppy Flowers were the first wildflowers to grow in abundance on battlefields notably after the 19th-century Napoleonic War and WWI. Poppies also symbolize sleep, imagination, beauty, dreams, luxury, and success.
One can also give red Poppies to partners as a symbol of their undying love.
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Poppy Flower Negative Symbolism
Due to the negative image of the opium Poppy around the world, Poppies also negatively symbolize eternal sleep and death. White Poppies are laid at graves to wish for peaceful eternal rest in death.
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Poppy Flower Cultural Symbolism
Poppies have been used as symbols of death and sleep in different ancient cultures like the Greeks, Romans, and Egyptians where Poppies are commonly offered to the dead. Poppy seeds were seen in ancient artworks and the tombs of ancient Egyptian kings. Even today, there are tombstones decorated with Poppy Flowers to commemorate eternal rest.
In Chinese and Japanese cultures, Poppies are regarded as a sign of one’s eternal love for their partner.
The California Poppy is the official state Poppy of California. In Poland, the national flower is the red Poppy. Unofficially, red Poppies are also Albania’s national flower because their colors are identical to the Albanian flag.
The red Poppy is also a huge symbol for Remembrance Day in memory of fallen soldiers and veterans.
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Poppy Flower Zodiac Sign
Poppies are most associated with the zodiac sign Taurus because of their beauty and resiliency for growth. Just like the Poppy, Taurus can thrive after devastating events and can stand their ground in the face of hostilities. They can bloom into their beautiful petals, especially for something they are passionate about.
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Poppy Flower in Dreams
Seeing Poppies and their derivative state in your dreams can indicate a multitude of meanings. When your dream features a single Poppy, it can mean you may need further education. Seeing a field of Poppies can mean your finances will be affected positively but be careful with handling your money.
Negative meanings can be associated with dreams of drugs from Poppy derivatives. Dreaming of Poppies can also mean positive changes, depending on the scenario of the dream.
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Poppy Flower Omens and Superstitions
Poppy Flowers are surrounded by superstitions. It is said that Poppy seeds are used in spells used for sleep, divinity, and invisibility. If you want to increase your luck, peace, good fortune, imagination, fertility, or prosperity, place Poppy seeds in an amulet.
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Poppy Flower Mythology and Folklore
Poppies are associated with the Egyptian god of Orisis, the god of death. In Greek mythology, Poppies are most associated with Hypnos, the god of sleep, and Thanatos, the god of death. Both are said to wear a crown of Poppies. Nyx, the goddess of night, their sister is also associated with the Poppy.
Additionally, Morpheus, the god of dreams in Greek mythology, is also greatly associated with the Poppy Flower. Its flower’s derivative morphine is taken from the name Morpheus.
The ancient Greeks also believed that Poppies grow from Demeter’s (goddess of agriculture) footsteps and she used the flower to help her sleep when her daughter, Persephone, is away in the underworld.
