Three thousand years ago, gardeners were growing oriental poppies and their Papaver cousins around the world. Oriental poppy plants (Papaver orientale) have remained a garden favorite ever since. Once planted, they require no special care and will last for many years. Their original, vibrant, red-orange color is still the most popular for growing, though oriental poppies come in a variety of colors that will match or blend into any garden’s color scheme.
| Common name | Oriental Poppy |
| Botanical name | Papaver orientale |
| Family | Papaveraceae |
| Species | orientale |
| Origin | Central Asia |
| Life cycle | Perennial |
| Plant type | Herbaceous Perennial |
| Hardiness zone | 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 |
| Sunlight | Dappled Sunlight |
| Maintenance | Medium |
| Soil condition | Loam |
| Soil ph | Acid |
| Drainage | Well-Drained |
| Growth rate | Medium |
| Spacing | 12 in. – 3 ft. |
| Harvest time | Summer |
| Flowering period | Spring |
| Height | 2 ft. – 3 ft. |
| Width | 2 ft. – 3 ft. |
| Flower color | Black |
| Leaf color | Gray, Silver |
| Stem color | Green |
| Leaf benefit | Showy |
| Flower benefit | Good Cut |
| Garden style | Asian Garden |
| Uses | Container |
I. Appearance and Characteristics
Papaver orientale, the Oriental poppy, is a perennial flowering plant native to the Caucasus, northeastern Turkey, and northern Iran.
Oriental poppies grow a mound of leaves that are hairy and finely dissected in spring. They gather energy and bloom in mid-summer. After flowering, the foliage dies away entirely, a property that allows their survival in the summer drought of Central Asia. Gardeners can place late-developing plants nearby to fill the developing gap.
Papaver orientale usually thrives in soil pH 6.5 to 7.5 and in full sun or part shade. Seeds are sown after the potential of frost has passed, the average temperature is approximately 21 °C and when soil has thoroughly warmed. The seeds are sown at a depth of about one centimeter, or less as light may stimulate germination. Oriental Poppies do not handle transplanting or over-watering well. Germination period is 10–20 days. Mulch can be used to protect the plant over the winter and deadheading will produce a second flower.
II. How to Grow and Care
Sunlight
Oriental poppies grow best in bright, full sun that’s not too hot.
Temperature and Humidity
Oriental poppies do best in cool temperatures and low humidity. Temperatures over 65ºF can inhibit their growth, which is why early spring planting is recommended. They’re not tolerant of the high summer heat, so be aware that the foliage on your oriental poppy plants may wither (or disappear entirely) during the year’s hottest months. Do not be tempted to overwater your oriental poppies to combat this problem as you may end up killing the plant via root rot instead.
Watering
During the blooming period (starting when the bud forms), give Oriental poppy one inch of water per week. Otherwise, water when the soil is dry, but do not overwater, especially during dormancy. Oriental poppies dislike overly wet soil, particularly when dormant, which can cause the roots to rot.
Soil
Grow Oriental poppy in a well-drained, medium moist soil enriched with compost. It prefers neutral pH between 6.5 and 7.0. It dislikes clay soil, so make sure to amend the soil well with compost.
Fertilizing
Oriental poppies don’t need fertilizer unless there’s too much nitrogen in the soil. If this is the case, feed your plants once a year (in late winter or early spring) with a phosphorus-rich fertilizer, by following the product manufacturer’s instructions.
Pruning
If your oriental poppy plants are too crowded, they’ll become weedy. Remove seeds and seedlings regularly so established plants have the room they need to grow. Cut plants back to the ground after they flower. This will encourage healthy foliage and may allow for a second flowering later in the season if the weather is right.
Propagation
Poppies can be divided and may need to have this done once about every five years if the plantings become too crowded. Division can be a little challenging, due to the plant’s deep taproot. It’s best to do this in late summer, well after the plant has bloomed and become dormant.
- Carefully dig up the entire plant clump with a shovel or a pitch fork, digging deep to get below the long taproots. If the soil is dry, water the base of the plant deeply before you start digging, as it will make it easier to remove the root system. The taproot can reach 12 inches deep, so dig carefully.
- Divide the clump by cutting vertically through the root mass so that each portion has one or more eyes plus some taproot and stem.
- Plant the sections so the tops are 3 inches below the soil line. Water them well and keep them evenly moist.
How to Grow from Seed
Direct sowing is the standard method for growing Oriental poppies. The seeds need cold to germinate, so most gardeners sow the seeds in fall, when the soil has cooled after the heat of late summer. If you miss the fall planting, you can sow seeds in spring, about one month before the last frost.
Rake the soil so it is smooth and free of rocks. Scatter the seeds, then cover them very lightly with soil; they need some sunlight for germination. And that’s all you need to do. Nature takes care of the rest. When the snow melts and the ground warms up in spring, the seeds will germinate and begin their growth. Be sure to mark the planting area because you won’t see the plants for many months, and you might forget where you put them. Note: if you garden in clay soil, make sure to amend the soil with compost, working it well into the bed, before sowing seeds.
Potting and Repotting
Oriental poppies have long taproots that need room to grow. The most important factor in successfully growing them in containers is selecting a large enough and deep enough pot. That said, it can make an excellent thriller for the center of a large container garden. Use high-quality potting soil, and place pots in a sunny location. Oriental poppies don’t like to be moved once they’re planted, so give them plenty of space, and plan to keep them where they are. If you do need to transplant your oriental poppy, try to do so in the fall and make sure you keep the taproot as intact as possible.
Overwintering
Oriental poppies are winter-hardy to USDA zone 3, but they benefit from a thick layer of mulch before the winter sets in to protect their root system against the cold.
Container-grown poppies need winterizing, as the roots are not sufficiently insulated. You can bury the container in garden soil, crate an insulating silo, or wrap the pot in burlap and/or bubble wrap for protection. Or move the pot indoors for best protection.
Pests and Diseases
Oriental poppies are largely resistant to pests but may develop botrytis blight, powdery mildew, gray mold, or root rot if they’re waterlogged. Try to wash the mildew from the leaves or treat your plants with an antifungal if needed.
In shadier locations, aphids and thrips can suck the sap from oriental poppies and damage them.
How to Get to Bloom
Oriental poppies not blooming could have several reasons. The easiest one to rule out is whether they are getting insufficient sunlight. Oriental poppies need full sun to bloom.
The soil might be lacking phosphorus, which promotes flowering. Try a bloom-boosting fertilizer that contains more phosphorus than nitrogen.
Because of the long taproot, it can take at least one growing season, sometimes longer, for the plants to get established.
Poor drainage or too much water can be another reason why they don’t bloom.
III. Types of Oriental Poppy
- ‘Helen Elizabeth’ Oriental Poppy
Papaver orientale ‘Helen Elizabeth’ has bristly stems and lobed, toothed foliage. A central boss of black stamens accents the bright salmon-color flowers. It may reach 2-1/2 feet tall. Zones 3-9
- ‘Coral Reef’ Oriental Poppy
This cultivar of Papaver orientale bears big coral-pink flowers on rugged plants that grow 3 feet tall. Zones 3-9
- ‘Allegro’ Oriental Poppy
Papaver orientale ‘Allegro’ is a dwarf form that stays only 20 inches tall and bears strong stems with bright red-orange flowers. Zones 3-9
- ‘Prince of Orange’ Oriental Poppy
Papaver orientale ‘Prince of Orange’ has full orange-scarlet flowers on 30-inch-tall stems. It doesn’t have the big black blotches at the base of the flower that most Oriental poppies do, but it’s centered with black stamens and seedpods. Zones 3-9
- ‘Patty’s Purple Plum’ Oriental Poppy
This Papaver orientale variety bears unique burgundy-purple blooms on strong 3-foot stems. Zones 3-7
IV. Uses and Benefits
The big, thistle-like leaves of Oriental poppy are downy, deeply-lobed, and rich green in color, offering aesthetic value in their own right. The leaves are tightly packed, and the flower stems are stiff and hairy, making Oriental poppy a good cut flower. The pods that succeed the flowers also have an ornamental quality and are dried for floral arrangements and crafts.
Find Where to Buy the Best Oriental Poppy (Papaver orientale)
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