''Papaver orientale'', the Oriental poppy, is a

perennial In horticulture, the term perennial ('' per-'' + '' -ennial'', "through the year") is used to differentiate a plant from shorter-lived annuals and biennials. It has thus been defined as a plant that lives more than 2 years. The term is also ...

flowering plant Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (). The term angiosperm is derived from the Ancient Greek, Greek words (; 'container, vessel') and (; 'seed'), meaning that the seeds are enclosed with ...

native to the Caucasus, northeastern Turkey, and northern Iran. Oriental poppies grow a mound of leaves that are hairy and finely dissected in spring. They gather energy and bloom in mid-summer. After flowering, the foliage dies away entirely, a property that allows their survival in the summer drought of Central Asia. Gardeners can place late-developing plants nearby to fill the developing gap.

Cultivation

''Papaver orientale'' usually thrives in soil pH 6.5 to 7.5 and in full sun or part shade. Seeds are sown after the potential of frost has passed, the average temperature is approximately 21 °C and when soil has thoroughly warmed. The seeds are sown at a depth of about one centimeter, or less as light may stimulate

germination Germination is the process by which an organism grows from a seed or spore. The term is applied to the sprouting of a seedling from a seed of an angiosperm or gymnosperm, the growth of a sporeling from a spore, such as the spores of fungi, ...

. Oriental Poppies do not handle transplanting or over-watering well. Germination period is 10–20 days.

Mulch A mulch is a layer of material applied to the surface of soil. Reasons for applying mulch include conservation of soil moisture, improving soil fertility, fertility and health of the soil, reducing Weed control, weed growth, and enhancing the v ...

can be used to protect the plant over the winter and deadheading will produce a second flower.

Cultivars

Cultivars A cultivar is a kind of cultivated plant that people have selected for desired traits and which retains those traits when propagated. Methods used to propagate cultivars include division, root and stem cuttings, offsets, grafting, tissue cult ...

(those marked have gained the

Royal Horticultural Society The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), founded in 1804 as the Horticultural Society of London, is the UK's leading gardening charity. The RHS promotes horticulture through its five gardens at Wisley (Surrey), Hyde Hall (Essex), Harlow Carr ...

Award of Garden Merit The Award of Garden Merit (AGM) is a long-established award for plants by the British Royal Horticultural Society (RHS). It is based on assessment of the plants' performance under UK growing conditions. It includes the full range of cultivated p ...

):-

Gallery

File:Türkenlouis.jpg, ''Türkenlouis'' red, highly fringed File:Olympia1b.UME.jpg, ''Olympia'' orange File:PapaverPapillion1a.UME.jpg, ''Papillon'' pink File:Papaver Orientale (Fruit Punch Poppy) found at the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens.jpg, Papaver Orientale (Fruit Punch Poppy) found at the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens File:Oriental_Poppy_Salmon.JPG, ''Cedric Morris'' salmon pink File:Papaver Pattys Plum.jpg, ''Pattys Plum'' plum

References

Sources

Garden Guides: Oriental Poppy varieties

External links