Chima Family Heirloom Poppy | Breadseed Poppy | Romanian Family Heirloom

The Chima Family Heirloom Poppy is a perfect example of how the best garden treasures are often the ones passed down through generations.

• A Multi-Generational Heirloom: This variety has been meticulously maintained in a private Pittsburgh garden since the 1960s. It was originally obtained from a Romanian-born mother and has been cherished by her daughter, Valeria, for decades.
• The Power of Seed Saving: By saving and replanting these seeds year after year, the Chima family ensured that this specific coral-pink strain didn't fade away with the passage of time. It is a living piece of family history that is now ready to thrive in your own backyard.

The Chima Family Heirloom is a masterclass in texture, offering a soft, romantic alternative to the darker or brighter poppies in our collection.

• The Blooms: The flowers are fully double, featuring layer upon layer of delicate, ruffled petals. The color is a soft, warm coral-pink that feels both timeless and sophisticated.
• The Habit: Reaching a sturdy 2 to 2 ½ feet tall, this variety maintains an upright and reliable presence. It is ideal for mid-border plantings, where its soft color can brighten up a space without overpowering other perennials.
• The Structure: Like all somniferum types, it develops handsome, urn-shaped seed pods after the petals fall, which remain decorative even as the summer transitions into autumn.

This poppy is a classic cool-season annual that loves the bright, crisp days of early summer. It is a reliable grower that rewards the gardener with a long-lasting, heavy display of blooms.

"The Chima Family Heirloom is the definition of a 'feel-good' flower. We love it because the color is so incredibly inviting—it’s not a loud, aggressive pink, but a soft, warm coral that looks beautiful against almost any background. It’s a plant with a soul, and knowing that it was kept alive in one family’s garden for over 60 years makes every single bloom feel that much more special."

• Sowing: Direct-sow in early spring while the soil is still cool. Like most poppies, these require light to germinate—scatter the seeds over finely raked soil and press them in firmly, but do not bury them.
• The "Cold-Start": If you find germination is tricky, try sowing in late autumn or placing your seeds in the refrigerator for 2–4 weeks before planting to simulate a winter chill.
• Pollinator Support: The large, open blooms are wonderful for early-season bees. Once the petals drop, the seed pods provide a fantastic late-summer food source for visiting birds.