I think you're thinking of oriental poppies, papaver orientale, which have
the big orange, salmon, or red flowers every year in late May, early June.
According to botanica, papaver somniferum is definitely an annual, albeit
fast growing and a reliable self-sower in the right climates.
"Alexander Pensky" wrote in message
...
gregpresley wrote:
The quintessential reseeding annual of northern climes is the poppy.
Both
papaver rhoeas (shirley poppy, corn poppy), and papaver somniferum
(opium
poppy) will reseed themselves for years in cool climates. If your
climate is
cold enough, iceland poppy may reseed itself too. (Native to arctic
regions).

Huh? Opium poppies are perennial, n'est-ce pas?

A friend gave me some root pieces in a pot..
planted them years ago...
the *exact same* poppy comes up every year...
not new seedlings.

- Alex