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Can poppy seeds bought for cooking be used to grow poppy plants?

I'm interested in growing papaver somniferum (also known as the opium poppy). I am not sure if poppy seeds sold in garden stores (oriental red) are of the same genus or species, so I am wondering if it is possible to plant and grow poppy plants from the poppy seeds bought in supermarkets for cooking? By the way, I find the plant to be very beautiful and in no way, shape, or form intend to harvest any opium or partake in any illegal activities of any kind :-).

Public Comments

1. Years ago I tried to germinate the poppyseeds I bought for cooking. They must have been toasted or something so they never grew even though I went through the soaking, etc. The Muse
2. Sometimes they'll germinate. Although I think, more and more often, the seeds are either heated or irradiated to make them inviable for growing. You can order seeds strictly for growing from other source. Just google it, and you'll find a bunch of sellers who will do mail-order.