returns in
273
days
Bloom calendar
Papaver orientale
Herbaceous perennial
At‑a‑glance
- Group/Class: Herbaceous perennial
- Height × spread: 24-30 in × 18-24 in (60-75 cm × 45-60 cm)
- Bloom window: Late spring to early summer
- Color & flower form: Large, cupped singles with crinkled petals; black basal blotches common
- Fragrance: unknown
- USDA hardiness: zones 3 to 7
- Breeder / Year / Origin: unknown; native to Central and West Asia
- Cut‑flower notes: Stems exude latex; sear ends to improve uptake; vase life short to moderate
- Pet safety: avoid
How it differs
- Perennial clumps that return yearly; many poppies on the pillar are annuals
- Blooms earlier in the season then goes summer dormant
- Oversized flowers with frequent dark basal blotches
- Needs cold winters; struggles in hot humid summers
Strengths
- Spectacular early color
- Cold‑hardy where winters are severe
- Low maintenance if soil drains well
- Long‑lived when sited correctly
Care in one minute
Site: full sun; shelter from strong wind if possible
Soil: well‑drained, average to fertile; pH slightly acidic to neutral
Water: regular during establishment; low to moderate after; avoid waterlogging
Feeding: light spring compost or balanced fertilizer
Support: stake in windy sites; deadhead to tidy or leave pods for structure
Overwintering: no special care; ensure winter drainage
Watch‑outs
- Foliage collapses after bloom leaving a gap
- Taproot resents transplanting or division
- Crown can rot in poorly drained soils
Best uses (tags)
Provenance note
Species native to Central Asia; widely selected into named cultivars in Europe and North America.
References
- North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox – Papaver orientale
- Missouri Botanical Garden – Plant Finder (Papaver orientale group profiles)
- International Society for Horticultural Science – Treatments on cut flower Papaver (latex and short vase life)
