The poppy or papaver orientale showy flowers appear for at most a week or two. In late spring or early summer in gorgeous shades of red, pink, orange, salmon, and white. They are borne on stems 2 ½ -3 feet high above foliage that looks, alike, quite messy as summer wears on and then disappears. The stems are covered with fine hairs, giving them a somewhat fuzzy texture. Every few years, divide the clumps to promote healthy growth and increase your stock of plants.
Papaver orientale can be grown in a bed itself or tucked in among later blooming plants. Who’s foliage will fill in and hide that of the poppies? There are several varieties to choose from, including the pink “Helen Elizabeth,” “Barr’s White,” and “Carmine,” which is red with black markings. The “Minicap” series will do better than most in hot climates.
Do we know you want to know how to grow Papaver orientale? Poppies are planted in late summer or early fall. They rarely need division, and propagation is best done by taking root cuttings several inches long. These showy flowers can be used in floral arrangements, though they have a short vase life. Papaver orientale is a perennial flowering plant native to the Caucasus, northeastern Turkey, and northern Iran. This gorgeous plant belongs to the Papaveraceae family.
Papaver Orientale prefers the sun, except in hot climates where some light shade is best during the hot part of the day. They are not fussy about soil, but poor drainage will cause them to rot, especially during the winter. Mulching should be avoided for the same reason. Oriental poppies are usually resistant to pests and diseases, but keep an eye out for aphids and fungal issues, especially in humid conditions. They are hardy in USDA zones 3-7 and can withstand cold winters. However, they do not fare well in very hot and humid climates.
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