Plant Type

Perennial

 

Height Range

1-3'

 

Flower Color

Orange, Pink, Red, White

 

Flower Season

Spring, Summer

 

Leaf Color

Green, Grey Green

 

Bark Color

n/a

 

Fruit Color

n/a

 

Fruit Season

n/a

Sun

Full

 

Water

Low, Medium

 

Growth Rate

Moderate

 

Soil Type

Sandy, Clay, Loam, Rocky, Unparticular

 

Soil Condition

Average, Rich, Well-drained, Dry

 

Soil pH

Neutral

 

Adverse Factors

n/a

Design Styles

English Cottage, Mediterranean, Ranch

 

Accenting Features

Showy Flowers

 

Seasonal Interest

Spring, Summer

 

Location Uses

Entry, Perennial Border

 

Special Uses

Mass Planting, Naturalizing, Small Spaces

 

Attracts Wildlife

n/a

Oriental poppies are great late spring perennials, with big, papery flowers in both bold and pastel hues. The flowers are borne singularly on tall stems held well above clumps of basal foliage that has long, deeply lobed, hairy leaves of bright to dull green. The clumps are 8 to 12 inches tall and the flowers may stand to 20 to 30 inches. The flowers emerge from large buds that droop downward, and after blooming, are followed by decorative seed heads. The foliage tends to go dormant mid summer, so plant poppies where they will be hidden by later perennials, such as baby's breath, bearded iris, and agastaache. They also pair well with low-water annuals such as nicotiana and cosmos.

Grow in well drained, average to dry soil in full sun. They do well in lean, poor soils. Though deadheading will extend the bloom, the seed heads are also decorative and have ornamental value. There are many named cultivars available. Though appreciative of regular irrigation when blooming, oriental poppies are very drought tolerant, and do not need more than periodic watering once flowering has stopped and the plant has gone dormant.