Oriental Poppy

Papaver

Papaver bracteatum ( Armenian Poppy )
A bushy perennial, reaching a maximum size of 6.5 x 3 ( rarely over 4 ) feet, that is native to the Caucasus and northern Iran.
The deeply-lobed, large leaves, up to 18 inches in length, are green.
The scarlet-red flowers, up to 7 inches across, are borne during early summer. Hardy zones 5 to 8.

Papaver orientale ( Oriental Poppy )
A very popular landscape perennial, reaching a maximum size of 5 x 5 feet. It is native to the Caucasus; south to northeast Turkey & northern Iran.
This perennial, may become short lived where winters are mild.
The deeply-cut, basal leaves, up to 18 ( rarely over 12 ) inches in length, are hairy gray-green. The foliage dies down around mid summer ( dormant but not dead ) and the plants should be cut back hard after flowering to stimulate fresh new growth which usually appears late summer. This second flush of foliage should NOT be cut back during the fall as it protects the crown during the winter. The leaves and all other parts of the plants are poisonous so don't eat.
The scarlet-red flowers, between 3 and 12 inches across, are borne during early summer.
Hardy zones 2 to 7 preferrring hot sunny sites and well drained soil. They are very drought tolerant while dormant and overwatering during this time could cause root rot.
Deer and rabbit resistant. Planted during October, they often bloom the following year. Planted during spring, they usually will not bloom during the same year.
The Oriental Poppies should be planted during spring and also be planted deeper than most perennials...bury the crown slightly below the soil surface. If installing containerized plants, simply plant them at the same depth they were in the pot.
The Oriental Poppy can be propagated from direct seeding during spring or fall. They do not like root disturbance once established. Established plants should be transplanted only during mid to late summer while dormant. Cultivars can be propagated from 4 inch root cuttings taken form dormant plants during mid summer.

* photo of unknown internet source


* photo taken on May 1 2010 @ Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD

* photo taken on June 2 2016 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on Apr 12 2017 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on Apr 23 2017 @ Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD

* photo taken on Dec 1 2017 in Columbia, MD

'Arthur Curtis'
Reaches up to 3 feet in height with bright red flowers.

'Beauty of Livermore'
Reaches a maximum size of 4 x 3 feet, with intense scarlet-red flowers, up to 8 inches across, borne late spring into early summer.

'Betty Ann'
Reaches up to 2.5 feet with crinkly pink flowers that have no basal spots.

'Big Jim'
Reaches up to 4 feet with crinkly deep red flowers.

'Black and White'
Reaches up to 3 x 3 feet, with white flowers with a black central zone.

* photo of unknown internet source


* photo taken on June 1 2014 in Ellicott City, MD

'Brilliant'
Reaches up to 3 feet, with intense orange-red flowers.

* photos taken on May 21 2017 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on May 28 2019 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on May 29 2020 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on May 30 2021 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on Apr 17 2021 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on Apr 10 2024 in Columbia, MD

'Cardinal'
Reaches up to 4 feet with scarlet-red flowers on this sterile hybrid that can bloom over 4 months with as many as 100 flowers on a plant.

* photos taken on May 15 2014 in Columbia, MD

'Cedric Morris'
Reaches up to 2.7 feet, with huge, pale pink ( centered black ) flowers.

* photo of unknown internet source


'China Boy'
Reaches up to 3 feet with large orange flowers, up to 10 inches wide, that have a white center.

'Coral Reef'
Vigorous and long-lived, reaching up to 32 inches, with huge, light pink ( with black eye ) flowers borne on strong stems.

'Fire Giant'
Reaches up to 3 feet with intense deep orange-red flowers.

'Glowing Embers'
Strongly upright in habit, reaching a maximum height of 44 inches, with ruffled orange-red flowers.

'Glowing Rose'
Reaches up to 3 feet in height with sturdy stems bearing intense deep pink flowers.

'Goliath Red'
Reaches up to 4 feet with intense scarlet-red flowers.

* photo of unknown internet source


'Harlem'
Reaches up to 38 inches and has deep green foliage which persists long into summer unlike many other cultivars. It also repeat blooms during early autumn with large deep rosy-red flowers with black petal bases, that are borne atop sturdy stems.

'Harvest Moon'
Reaches up to 44 inches with double golden-orange flowers.

'Helen Elizabeth'
Reaches up to 3 feet with salmon-pink flowers.

'King Kong'
Reaches up to 3.3 feet, with huge, intense deep red flowers borne on sturdy stems.

'Maiden's Blush'
Reaches up to 3 feet with ruffled flowers, up to 6 inches across, that are white with a soft pink edge up to an inch wide.

Mrs Marrow's Plum'
Reaches up to 3 fee with large, plum-purple flowers that are edged lighter plum-purple.

'Mrs Perry'
Salmon-pink flowers.

'Persepolis'
Very large, bright orange flowers.

'Princess Victoria Louise'
Reaches up to 3 feet with medium sized, salmon-pink flowers with a dark blotch.

'Patty's Plum'
Reaches up to 3 x 3 feet with very dark reddish-purple flowers, up to 6 inches across.

* photo of unknown internet source


'Peter Pan'
Reaches up to 2 feet with frilled bright red flowers borne during early summer.

'Pink Ruffles'
Reaches up to 32 inches with very abundant, frilled, pink flowers borne late spring into early summer.

* photos taken on May 27 2017 @ Meadowlark Botanical Gardens, Vienna, VA

'Pinnacle'
Reaches up to 3 feet with large bicolored scarlet-red and white flowers.

'Royal Wedding'
Reaches up to 3 feet with pure white flowers with a black center.

'Showgirl'
Reaches up to 3 feet with huge, showy, ruffled flowers that are pink with a white center.

'Staten Island'
Reaches up to 2.5 feet, with large, purplish-red ( with black basal blotch ) flowers borne late spring then reblooming during early fall.
The foliage is long lasting.

'Stormtorch'
Fiery red flowers.

'Sprite'
Reaches up to 4 feet. This sterile hybrid can bloom over 4 months with as many as 100 flowers on a plant.

'Sundance'
Orange flowers on this sterile hybrid that can bloom over 4 months with as many as 100 flowers on a plant.. Very heat tolerant.

'Tara'
Pink flowers up to 8 inches across on this sterile hybrid that can bloom over 4 months with as many as 100 flowers on a plant.

'Turk Delight'
Reaches up to 4 feet with frilled, intense orange-red flowers.

Related Plants

Iceland Poppy ( Papaver nudicaule )

* photos taken during Apr 2019 in Columbia, MD