Hybrid

Champagne Bubbles Scarlet

Papaver nudicaule

Photo: Fischer1961 · Wikimedia Commons · (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Harvest

85-100d

Days to harvest

📅

Sun

Full sun to partial shade

☀️

Zones

2–7

USDA hardiness

🗺️

Height

12-20 inches

📏

Planting Timeline

Zone:

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Start Indoors

Transplant

Direct Sow

Start Indoors

Transplant

Direct Sow

Showing dates for Champagne Bubbles Scarlet in USDA Zone 7

All Zone 7 flower →

Zone Map

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Champagne Bubbles Scarlet · Zones 2–7

What grows well in Zone 7? →

Growing Details

Difficulty

Easy

Spacing12-18 inches

SeasonPerennial

ColorScarlet red

Size3-5"

Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar

Zone	Indoor Start	Transplant	Direct Sow	Harvest
Zone 1	May – June	July – August	July – September	—
Zone 2	April – May	June – July	June – August	—
Zone 11	January – January	January – February	January – March	—
Zone 12	January – January	January – February	January – March	—
Zone 13	January – January	January – February	January – March	—
Zone 3	April – May	June – July	June – August	—
Zone 4	March – April	June – June	June – July	—
Zone 5	March – April	May – June	May – July	—
Zone 6	March – April	May – June	May – July	—
Zone 7	February – March	April – May	April – June	—
Zone 8	February – March	April – May	April – June	—
Zone 9	January – February	March – April	March – May	—
Zone 10	January – January	February – March	February – April	—

Complete Growing Guide

Cheerful scarlet-red 3-5" blooms are borne on sturdy, straight, 12-20" stems. Productive plants produce uniform, crinkled, cup-shaped blooms that sparkle and float above clumps of soft, gray-green foliage. Lightly fragrant. According to Johnny's Selected Seeds, Champagne Bubbles Scarlet is 85 - 100 days to maturity, perennial, hybrid (f1). Notable features: Use for Cut Flowers and Bouquets, Attracts Beneficial Insects.

Light: Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day), Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours). Drainage: Good Drainage. Maintenance: Low. Propagation: Root Cutting, Seed. Regions: Mountains.

Harvesting

Champagne Bubbles Scarlet reaches harvest at 85 - 100 days from sowing per Johnny's Selected Seeds. Expect 3-5" at peak.

Fruit in the form of an elliptical, many seeded capsule. Seeds are small or minute, kidney-shaped and pitted or very finely reticulated.

Type: Capsule.

Storage & Preservation

For fresh cut flowers, store Champagne Bubbles Scarlet stems in a clean vase with cool water (65-72°F) in a cool location away from direct sunlight, fruit, and ethylene-producing sources. Change water every 2-3 days for optimal vase life of 7-10 days. To preserve blooms longer, use floral preservative in water and recut stems at a 45-degree angle. Dry preservation: hang stems upside-down in a warm, dark, well-ventilated area for 2-3 weeks to create dried arrangements. Press flowers between newspaper under weight for 2-3 weeks for botanical crafts. Alternatively, freeze blooms in ice cubes with water for decorative purposes.

History & Origin

Champagne Bubbles Scarlet is an F1 hybrid developed through controlled cross-pollination. Listed in the Johnny's Selected Seeds catalog.

Origin: Greenland, Europe, Northern Africa, Asia, and Canada

Advantages

+Vibrant scarlet blooms create stunning visual impact in garden beds.
+Sturdy 12-20 inch stems are excellent for cut flower arrangements.
+Easy cultivation makes this variety perfect for beginner gardeners.
+Lightly fragrant flowers add pleasant sensory appeal to bouquets.
+Productive plants deliver uniform, crinkled cup-shaped blooms consistently.

Considerations

-85-100 day maturity requires patience before flowering begins.
-Gray-green foliage may appear less vibrant than bloom color.
-Iceland poppies prefer cool climates and dislike extreme heat.

Companion Plants

Marigolds (especially Tagetes patula) and Sweet Alyssum are the most practical companions here. Alyssum draws in parasitic wasps and hoverflies whose larvae feed on aphids — useful since poppies can attract aphid colonies on their soft stems. Marigolds do similar work at the border without competing for root space at the 12-18 inch spacing this poppy needs. Nasturtiums add a third layer by acting as a trap crop, pulling aphid pressure toward themselves and away from the flowers you're trying to keep clean.

Black Walnut is the one to plant well away from — its roots release juglone continuously, and poppies aren't among the tolerant species. Sunflowers are a subtler issue: they exude allelopathic compounds through their roots and decomposing leaf litter, and at full height they'll drop a 12-20 inch poppy into shade fast. Neither pairing is worth the trouble.

Plant Together

Marigolds

Repel aphids, whiteflies, and nematodes while attracting beneficial insects

Sweet Alyssum

Attracts beneficial insects like lacewings and provides ground cover

Nasturtiums

Act as trap crops for aphids and cucumber beetles, drawing pests away

Zinnia

Attracts butterflies and beneficial pollinators, similar growing requirements

Petunias

Repel aphids, tomato hornworms, and squash bugs naturally

Cosmos

Attracts beneficial insects and provides complementary colors and heights

Catnip

Repels ants, aphids, and mosquitoes through natural compounds

Lavender

Repels moths, fleas, and mosquitoes while attracting pollinators

Keep Apart

Black Walnut

Produces juglone toxin that inhibits growth of many flowering plants

Eucalyptus

Releases allelopathic compounds that can stunt growth of nearby plants

Sunflowers

Can overshadow and outcompete for nutrients, may release growth inhibitors

Troubleshooting Champagne Bubbles Scarlet

What you'll see, why it happens, and what to do about it.

Seedlings collapse at soil level, stems pinched thin and dark at the base, 7-14 days after germination

Likely Causes

Damping off (Pythium or Rhizoctonia spp.) — triggered by overwatering and poor airflow around seedlings
Sowing too thickly, keeping soil surface constantly moist

What to Do

1.Water from below (set trays in a shallow dish) and let the surface dry between waterings
2.Thin seedlings to at least 1 inch apart as soon as they're large enough to handle
3.Run a small fan near your seed trays for 30-60 minutes a day to improve surface airflow

Leaves showing gray fuzzy coating, flower buds wilting before they open, during cool wet weather

Likely Causes

Botrytis blight (Botrytis cinerea) — common on Iceland poppies in humid or overcast stretches, especially at temps between 55-75°F
Plants crowded closer than 12 inches, trapping moisture at the crown

What to Do

1.Pull and bag (don't compost) any affected foliage or buds immediately
2.Give plants the full 12-18 inches of spacing so air moves through freely
3.Switch to base watering in the morning so stems and foliage dry before evening

Plant is full and leafy but shows no flower buds after 100 days, even in spring

Likely Causes

Temperatures too warm to trigger bud set — Champagne Bubbles Scarlet needs cool nights (40-65°F) to initiate flowering
Excess nitrogen pushing leafy growth at the expense of blooms

What to Do

1.Start seeds indoors in February or direct sow in early April so plants are established before daytime highs push consistently past 70°F
2.Skip heavy compost amendments — this variety does fine in lean, well-drained soil with no supplemental fertilizer
3.Try a fall sow in September or early October (zones 6-7) for plants that bloom earlier the following spring

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do Champagne Bubbles Scarlet cut flowers last?▼

Properly stored in cool water with floral preservative, these cut flowers typically last 7-10 days in a vase. Change the water every 2-3 days and recut the stems at a 45-degree angle every few days to maintain freshness. Keep stems away from direct sunlight, ripening fruit, and warm temperatures to extend vase life.

Is Champagne Bubbles Scarlet a good flower for beginners?▼

Yes, absolutely. This variety is rated as easy to grow and is perfect for beginning gardeners. It thrives in full sun to partial shade, tolerates a wide range of conditions, and produces abundant blooms consistently. The sturdy 12-20" stems make handling and arranging simple, making it ideal for cut flower gardeners of all experience levels.

Can you grow Champagne Bubbles Scarlet in containers?▼

Yes, these flowers can be successfully grown in containers. Use a well-draining potting mix, provide 4-6+ hours of sunlight daily, and ensure regular watering. Container growing allows you to move plants to optimize sun exposure and protect from harsh weather while still producing abundant, uniform blooms suitable for cutting.

When should I plant Champagne Bubbles Scarlet seeds?▼

Start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before your last expected frost date, or direct sow in the garden after all frost danger has passed. Seeds germinate in 7-14 days in warm soil. Plants will reach maturity and begin flowering in 85-100 days from planting, making summer bloomers perfect for mid-season color.

What spacing do Champagne Bubbles Scarlet plants need?▼

Space plants 12-18 inches apart to allow adequate air circulation, which reduces disease pressure and encourages sturdy growth. Proper spacing ensures each plant develops into a full, productive specimen with multiple flowering stems, maximizing your cut flower yield throughout the growing season.