A number of poppies can be the perfect addition to any Rock Garden

When many think of California poppy seeds, plants for their rock garden are not the first things that spring to mind. In fact, California poppies might not be included at all when gardeners sit down to work out which plants would be the best for their rock garden. But along with succulents, beautiful alpine specimens, and small, creeping sedums, a number of dwarf poppies can be the perfect addition to any rockery.

There are both annual and perennial poppy species available

Whether the rock garden is already established, or gardeners are creating a new one from scratch, there are a range of beautiful poppies that will certainly enrich the planting. Even better, there are both annual and perennial species available, allowing for a number of uses. If the rock garden is a huge eye catching feature in the garden, the wonderful and colorful glint of poppy blooms will create a dazzling effect as plants emerge from the cracks and crevices between rocks. Meanwhile, if the feature is a smaller affair such as a small, flat graveled area, or an alpine garden created in a ceramic sink, the dwarf blooms of poppies will give an almost instant and appealing splash of color.

A bare rock garden can quickly become gloriously awash with colors

For those that are creating a rockery garden, the use of annual California dwarf poppy seeds can be ideal. Many gardens will look bare in their first few years as perennial plants begin to grow and mature. However, using annual poppies will ensure that even in a garden's first season there will be a splash of color to be enjoyed. Purple Gleam poppies are a true dwarf species, offering beautiful single petalled flowers of lavender pink and dusty rose. Meanwhile, the stunning Rose Chiffon variety offers a bi-color, semi-double bloom of flamingo pink with pale yellow centre. And while not a true dwarf, the pale hues of White Linen will provide a sea of white blooms in the cooler weather of early spring.

There are a range of beautiful poppies that will certainly enrich the planting

For anyone planting up their first rock garden, or looking to liven up an existing one, the incorporating of California poppies is perfect. Also, another great choice, coming in a beautiful form, the perennial alpine poppy provides an essential palette of orange, white, salmon and yellow to excite any space. With buds rising into the air between 6 and 8 inches they are ideally suited to a rockery and alpine environment. With their profuse and intense flowering throughout the summer season, their perennial status, and their ability to self seed, a bland rock garden can be transformed within months. And with seedlings establishing themselves in nooks and crannies throughout, a bare rock garden can quickly become gloriously awash with the colors of mountain slopes and alpine retreats.

It will take gardeners no time at all to create a simply stunning garden feature

So, when planning planting designs and species for rockeries, it is important to include poppies in the mix. Not only do they provide a wonderful range of colors, but being easy to grow it'll take gardeners no time at all to create a simply stunning feature. Meanwhile, with alpine and dwarf California poppy seeds offering a beautiful range of plants, gardeners may find themselves creating a rock garden simply to include these delightful plants into their collection.