What to look for in poppies
Hold it up to the light
A poppy petal is close to translucent and creased like paper that has been folded and opened out again. It should glow when light passes through rather than stopping it. This is the hardest property to fake in the whole category, and the reason most artificial poppies come out as flat, opaque saucers.
The centre is a seed pod, not a disc
Look for a green or blue-green pod ringed by a dense fringe of stamens, with a visible crown on top. A flat yellow circle printed onto the middle is the shortcut, and it is the first thing that gives the flower away in close-up photographs.
The neck has to bend
Real poppies nod — the stem curves just below the head and the flower hangs slightly forward. That only works if the wire runs the full length of the stem rather than stopping at the base. Check the description says the stem is bendable, then set the angle yourself when it arrives.