Papaver orientale
Oriental poppy
- Height × spread
- 0.6m – 1.2m × 0.5m – 1.2m
- Position
- Full sun
Availability
Generally available in late Spring & early Summer
Many plants are seasonal. Call 01234 567890 to check current stock.
About this plant
Grown for their opulent blooms, which can be wondrous to behold, these come with an ample stock of foliage. The leaves are large and spreading and they need space or they can smother small plants in their vicinity. These flower in early summer. The flowers make huge papery goblets and come in shades of brilliant red, pink, salmon, orange, and white. Many blooms have big black blotches at their heart. The flowers of the oriental poppy are glorious. The foliage dies down when they have finished and can leave a bare space. The classic solution is to plant Gypsophila paniculata behind it so the frothy blooms can lean forward and cover the emptiness. You could try big romping geraniums such as Geranium x oxonianum forms to resolve this problem. The oriental poppies are worth it!
- Flower colour
- Brown, Grey, Orange, Pink, Purple, Red, Rose, White
- Foliage colour
- Green, Grey
- Fruit colour
- Brown
- Variegated
- No
- Scent
- No
- Shape
- Cube, Dome
- Height
- 0.6m – 1.2m
- Spread
- 0.5m – 1.2m
- Season of interest
- Spring, Summer, Autumn
- Evergreen
- Deciduous
- Garden style
- Wild flower meadow, Seaside garden, Prairie garden, Gravel garden, Exotic garden, Cottage garden
- Sun or shade
- Likes full sun
- Soil type
- Chalk, Gravelly soil, Loam (normal), Poor soil, Sandy soil
- Soil pH
- All types
- Drainage
- Well drained soil, Dry soil, Drought resistant
- Winter hardiness
- Varies, most are hardy
- Borders & containers
- Borders
- Use for
- Architectural, Bee attraction
- Maintenance
- Easycare – low/no maintenance
- Hazards
- No
Spring
Spring-Autumn · Outdoors
Water in dry periods
Established plants in the ground can cope with 7-10 days of dryness, and shrubs often manage 2 to 3 weeks. Water one section of the garden thoroughly each day rather than a little everywhere. Check plants in pots more often, especially in hot weather.
Spring - early-mid · Planting
Divide when too large
The plant can be divided if it becomes too large or another plant is required. This may involve physically dividing the clump in two, removing offsets or small bulbs or dividing rhizomes. The new plants can be grown in pots or planted in the ground.
Summer
Summer - early · Outdoors
Feed a general fertiliser
Where plants have moderate needs for nutrients, they can simply be given a general feed, fairly early in the growth season so that the growth has plenty of time to harden off before the cold weather.
Give plants a general boost with the application of a general purpose fertiliser which is spread around the root area of the plant, with amounts as directed on the feed label.
Planting & general
Compost · Planting
Multi-purpose compost
Use a good quality peat-free multi-purpose compost when growing in pots and containers.
Found in
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