My impression is they are not particularly difficult, tho' I haven't grown them, but the secret (if I remember correctly!) is to scatter the seed in the fall. It's very hard to find seed as the powers that be are convinced we are only interested in growing them for opium production. They are possibly the most beautiful poppy in a beautiful family. Too bad we have to worry about people chopping down our brugs to get high (it's never happened to me, and I might just sic the dog on 'em!), and chowing down on the castor beans (ugh!)