Iceland Poppy Colibrì® Chiaro Pastello | Papaver nudicaule | Soft Apricot-Peach
Colibrì® Chiaro Pastello is an exquisite Italian-bred Iceland Poppy (Papaver nudicaule) with exceptionally large flowers in a dreamy palette of soft apricot, pale peach, creamy blush and delicate salmon-pink tones. The exact shade can vary subtly from flower to flower, creating a beautifully harmonious pastel effect.
Its large, light and almost translucent petals have the delicate tissue-paper texture for which Iceland Poppies are loved. Combined with elegant stems and oversized blooms, Chiaro Pastello is particularly desirable for cut flower production, romantic bouquets and sophisticated floral design.
The Colibrì® series was developed in Italy specifically for its remarkable flower size and cut flower qualities. Compared with standard Iceland Poppies, Colibrì® produces exceptionally large blooms with refined colours and an elegant appearance.
Plants reach approximately 40–50 cm in height and can be grown in the greenhouse, under protection or outdoors in suitable cool conditions.
Allow approximately 100–120 days from sowing to flowering, depending on growing conditions and season.
What makes Colibrì® Chiaro Pastello special?
The beauty of Chiaro Pastello lies in its subtle colour variation. Rather than producing a single flat shade, the flowers move through a delicate pastel spectrum of apricot, peach, cream, blush pink and soft salmon. Commercial references describe this colour as ranging from pale pink and cream through peach, while other sources particularly emphasize its apricot-peach character.
This makes every flowering plant slightly individual while maintaining the soft, harmonious appearance characteristic of the variety.
Key characteristics:
- Exceptionally large flowers
- Soft apricot-peach pastel colouring
- Delicate cream, blush and pale salmon undertones
- Large, silky, almost translucent petals
- Elegant stems for cutting
- Excellent cut flower variety
- Height approximately 40–50 cm
- Suitable for protected and outdoor cultivation
- Italian-bred Colibrì® series
Plant Information
Botanical name: Papaver nudicaule
Common name: Iceland Poppy
Series: Colibrì®
Variety: Chiaro Pastello
Flower colour: Soft apricot-peach with cream, blush-pink and pale salmon tones
Height: approximately 40–50 cm
Spacing: approximately 20 cm
Type: Cool-season flower / Cool Flower
Position: Full sun
Soil: Light, fertile and very well-drained
Germination temperature: approximately 15–18 °C
Germination time: approximately 2–4 weeks
Sowing to flowering: approximately 100–120 days
Main flowering period: May–July, depending on sowing time and growing conditions
Vase life: approximately 5–7 days
Best for: Cut flowers, greenhouse production, protected cultivation and garden beds
How to sow Colibrì® Chiaro Pastello Iceland Poppy
Papaver nudicaule seeds are extremely fine and should not be deeply covered.
For cut flower production, sowing into plug trays is particularly practical because Iceland Poppies prefer minimal root disturbance.
Sowing step by step
- Fill plug trays or seed trays with a fine, light and well-drained seed-starting mix.
- Moisten the growing medium and gently level the surface.
- Sow the tiny seeds on the surface of the growing medium.
- Gently press the seeds down to ensure good contact with the moist substrate.
- Cover only very lightly with fine vermiculite or growing medium. Do not bury the seeds deeply.
- Keep the growing medium evenly moist but never waterlogged.
- Maintain a germination temperature of approximately 15–18 °C.
- Germination generally takes around 2–4 weeks.
- Once seedlings emerge, provide plenty of light, cooler growing conditions and good air circulation.
- Transplant carefully once the seedlings are sufficiently established.
Important: Iceland Poppies dislike unnecessary root disturbance. Sowing into individual plug cells makes it easier to transplant young plants while keeping the root ball intact.
When to sow
Colibrì® Chiaro Pastello is a cool-season flower and performs best when plants can establish and develop during relatively cool weather.
Suggested sowing periods:
January–April: sow indoors or under protection for spring and early-summer flowering.
March–May: sow outdoors when local temperatures and soil conditions are suitable.
August–October: autumn sowing is possible in climates where young plants can successfully overwinter.
For very early January or February sowings, supplemental lighting may be necessary during periods of low natural light.
Allow approximately 100–120 days from sowing to flowering, depending on temperature, light and growing conditions.
Growing conditions
Iceland Poppies perform best in bright, cool conditions and very well-drained soil.
Choose a sunny position with light, fertile soil. Avoid heavy or continuously wet growing conditions, particularly during cool weather.
For strong, healthy plants:
- Grow in full sun
- Provide excellent drainage
- Keep young plants evenly moist without overwatering
- Maintain good air circulation
- Space plants approximately 20 cm apart
- Avoid unnecessarily warm conditions during early growth
- Ventilate greenhouse crops regularly
Colibrì® can be grown in a greenhouse, under protective cover or outdoors.
For professional cut flower production, protected cultivation can help protect the exceptionally delicate petals from heavy rain and improve overall flower quality.
Colibrì® Chiaro Pastello as a cut flower
Colibrì® Chiaro Pastello is an exceptional cut flower.
Its oversized, silky blooms and soft apricot-peach pastel palette bring an airy, romantic quality to bouquets. The colour works particularly beautifully with cream, blush, pale yellow, soft pink and other warm pastel flowers.
For Colibrì® poppies, harvest timing is especially important. Professional cultivation information for this series recommends harvesting slightly later than standard Iceland Poppies, when the sepals have released from the base of the flower bud, rather than cutting too early.
The flowers then continue to open beautifully after harvest.
How to improve vase life
With correct harvesting and conditioning, Colibrì® Iceland Poppies can have a vase life of approximately 5–7 days.
After cutting:
- Harvest at the correct opening stage
- Use clean, sharp cutting tools
- Place stems into water immediately
- Dip the bottom of freshly cut stems into very hot or boiling water for approximately 7–10 seconds
- Immediately transfer them to clean water with cut flower food
- Keep flowers cool and away from direct sunlight during conditioning
The hot-water treatment is traditionally used with Iceland Poppies to condition the freshly cut stems and improve their performance as cut flowers.
Colibrì® – exceptional Italian Iceland Poppies for cutting
The Colibrì® series combines the naturally delicate beauty of Iceland Poppies with the results of careful Italian breeding for the cut flower market.
Exceptionally large blooms, elegant stems and sophisticated colours make Colibrì® a remarkable choice for professional flower growers as well as home cutting gardens.
Colibrì® Chiaro Pastello is particularly special for its dreamy pastel colouring. Soft apricot and peach blend with creamy blush and subtle salmon-pink undertones, creating flowers that look almost hand-painted.
It is an outstanding choice for anyone looking to grow an exceptionally large-flowered, elegant Iceland Poppy in sophisticated warm pastel shades from seed.
