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perennial

Oriental Poppy

Papaver orientale

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Oriental Poppy (Papaver orientale) at Tagawa Gardens

Oriental Poppy flowers

(Photo courtesy of NetPS Plant Finder)

Height:  30 inches

Spacing:  18 inches

Sunlight:  full sun  partial shade 

Hardiness Zone:  3

Ornamental Features

Oriental Poppy features bold orange round flowers with burgundy eyes at the ends of the stems from early to mid summer. The flowers are excellent for cutting. Its deeply cut ferny leaves remain forest green in color throughout the season.

Landscape Attributes

Oriental Poppy is an open herbaceous perennial with tall flower stalks held atop a low mound of foliage. Its wonderfully bold, coarse texture can be very effective in a balanced garden composition.

This is a relatively low maintenance plant, and should only be pruned after flowering to avoid removing any of the current season's flowers. Deer don't particularly care for this plant and will usually leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration;

  • Self-Seeding

Oriental Poppy is recommended for the following landscape applications;

  • Accent
  • General Garden Use

Planting & Growing

Oriental Poppy will grow to be about 24 inches tall at maturity, with a spread of 24 inches. When grown in masses or used as a bedding plant, individual plants should be spaced approximately 18 inches apart. It grows at a fast rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 5 years. As an herbaceous perennial, this plant will usually die back to the crown each winter, and will regrow from the base each spring. Be careful not to disturb the crown in late winter when it may not be readily seen! As this plant tends to go dormant in summer, it is best interplanted with late-season bloomers to hide the dying foliage.

This plant does best in full sun to partial shade. It prefers dry to average moisture levels with very well-drained soil, and will often die in standing water. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution, and will benefit from being planted in a relatively sheltered location. Consider applying a thick mulch around the root zone in winter to protect it in exposed locations or colder microclimates. This species is not originally from North America.

 
 
Hardiness Zone Plant Height Minimum Sunlight
Characteristics
Accent  Garden 
Applications
Flowers  Texture 
Ornamental Features

This Plant Library is for informational purposes only. We may or may not carry the items listed. During many times of the year, we may carry many more plants in our store than are listed in the Plant Library. Please contact us directly at 303-690-4722 or visit our store for current availability and for assistance.