Oriental Poppy: Exotic Color for the Late-Spring Garden

White Flower Farm, Inc.
P.O. Box 50, Route 63
Litchfield, Connecticut 06759

Toll Free: 800-503-9624

The romance of the Oriental Poppy (Papaver orientale) is fully justified by its huge, crepe-petaled blooms; these flaunt their gorgeous pinks, reds, oranges, or whites in May or June like silken swatches spread across some central Asian bazaar. Borne atop stems 2 1/2 to 4 feet tall, Oriental Poppy blossoms last only a week or two, but during that season furnish one of the high points of the gardening year. The dense mound of finely cut, downy foliage provides a handsome setting for the flowers while adding greatly to the texture of bed or border.

Enduring Perennials
We've known oriental Poppies to bloom faithfully for decades when their modest needs -- a sunny spot and well-drained, moderately fertile, soil -- have been satisfied. Winter hardy virtually anywhere in the continental United States, Oriental Poppies are also outstandingly tolerant of summer drought, since they retreat underground into dormancy soon after flowering. To fill the gap created by the Oriental Poppies' disappearance, we pair them with expansive summer-blooming annuals such as Baby's Breath or Dahlias, or bold, summer-blooming perennials and Asiatic Lilies.

Oriental Poppies for the Cutting Garden
Oriental Poppy blossoms offer superb material for indoor arrangements. Cut in early morning when the buds are just unfolding, searing the stem's cut end with the flame of a match.

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