Oriental Poppy
Papaver orientale
Oriental poppies have huge, silky, papery flowers in red, orange, pink or white with dark centres in early summer, above hairy, deeply cut leaves. They go dormant after flowering.
Photo: Christian Orlandi · CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Essential Care Requirements
Light
Full sun
Watering
Low
Water in spring; let the soil stay dry during summer dormancy.
Soil
Deep, well-drained soil; pH 6.0–7.5.
Temperature and humidity
-35–30 °C · Low humidity
Feeding
Little feeding needed.
Pruning and propagation
Propagate by division, seed
Cut back leaves after flowering; new leaves appear in autumn.
All parts contain alkaloids that are harmful if eaten.
Top Cultivation Tips
Plant with late perennials to fill the gap.
Does not like being moved.
Sear cut stems for longer vase life.
California and Iceland poppies suit warmer climates.
Common problems
Aphids
Small, soft-bodied insects that cluster on new shoots and buds, sucking sap and leaving sticky honeydew behind.
How to treat it →DiseasePowdery mildew
A fungal disease that coats leaves, buds and young shoots with a white, flour-like dust, weakening the plant and spoiling flowers and fruit.
How to treat it →DiseaseRoot rot
Roots decay in waterlogged soil, so the plant wilts and yellows even though the soil is wet.
How to treat it →
