Poppies, including species like the common field poppy (Papaver rhoeas), the Breadseed poppy (Papaver somniferum), and the California poppy (Eschscholzia californica), are highly beneficial to pollinators. They offer an extremely abundant, easily accessible food source for many insects, particularly various bee species. However, their contribution is limited almost entirely to one resource.
The Primary Resource: Abundant Pollen, Minimal Nectar
Poppies are massive producers of pollen, a protein-rich food source for bees. The flowers feature numerous stamens, the male parts of the flower, which are covered in this powder-like substance. This large quantity of pollen is easily accessed by foraging insects due to the flower’s open, bowl-shaped structure.
Pollen is the main source of protein and fat for bees, necessary for the development of larvae and the growth of young adults. Poppy pollen is nutritionally valuable, often containing a high percentage of protein. This high protein content makes poppies a preferred food source, especially for colonies needing to rear new brood.
The limiting factor for poppies is that most species in the Papaver genus lack nectaries. They do not produce nectar, the sugary liquid that many pollinators rely on for energy and flight fuel. While poppies provide essential building blocks for bee larvae, they do not offer the quick energy source provided by most other flowering plants.
Selecting the Best Poppy Varieties for Insect Support
The most beneficial poppy varieties for pollinators retain a simple, wild-type flower structure. Single-petaled flowers, such as the Breadseed Poppy (P. somniferum), the Corn Poppy (P. rhoeas), and the California Poppy (E. californica), offer the best access to the pollen. These open forms allow insects like bumblebees and honeybees to easily dive into the center and collect the pollen.
Gardeners should be cautious with highly cultivated, ornamental varieties. Double-flowered or “peony-flowered” poppies, which have many layers of petals, can be detrimental to pollinators. The dense, ruffled petal structure often physically blocks access to the stamens, making it difficult for insects to reach the pollen.
Oriental Poppies (Papaver orientale) can also present challenges because their large, overlapping petals make the pollen harder to reach than in simpler annual species. Selecting single-flowered cultivars of any species ensures the flower’s resources remain available to foraging insects.
Specialized Pollinators and Poppy Limitations
Poppies are attractive to generalist pollinators like honeybees and various species of bumblebees, which are efficient at collecting the dry, abundant pollen. These bees often vibrate their bodies against the stamens, a technique called buzz pollination, to release the pollen. The large, open flowers are suited for this method.
Some insects have a specialized relationship with the plant. The solitary Poppy Mason Bee (Hoplitis papaveris), for example, uses the delicate petals of the Common Poppy to line its underground nest cells. This bee is dependent on the poppy, not just for pollen, but for its unique nesting material.
Poppies have a limitation in their short blooming period, as individual flowers typically last only one to three days before the petals drop. This ephemeral nature means the plant is only a temporary magnet for pollen collectors. Gardeners should plant poppies in successive sowings or alongside longer-blooming flowers to ensure a continuous food supply throughout the season.