- Oriental poppy
Taxobox
name = Oriental poppy
image_width = 225px
regnum =Plant ae
divisio = Magnoliophyta
classis =Magnoliopsida
ordo =Ranunculales
familia =Papaveraceae
genus = "Papaver "
species = "P. orientale"
binomial = "Papaver orientale"
binomial_authority = (L.)The Oriental poppy ("Papaver orientale") is a perennial
poppy of the genus "Papaver ".Aside from its natural brilliant orange-scarlet, since the later 19th century selective breeding for gardens has created a range of colors from clean white with eggplant-black blotches ("
Barr's White " is the standard against which other whites are measured), through clear true pinks and salmon pinks to a deep maroon.Oriental poppies throw up a mound of handsome, finely cut hairy foliage in spring. After flowering the foliage dies away entirely, a property that allows their survival in the summer drought of
Central Asia . Late-developing plants should be planted nearby to fill the developing gap. Fresh leaves appear with autumn rains.Gardening
Sow seeds after potential of frost when soil has thoroughly warmed. The average temperature should be approximately 70 °F (21 °C) for planting. Oriental Poppies do not handle transplanting well. Germination period is 10-20 days. Be careful not to over-water. In the late summer, the oriental poppy becomes dormant. Protect the plant in the winter with mulching. The flower originated in Asia with a hardiness zone of 3-8 average. It usually thrives in light calcarous soil and in full sun or part shade.
Cut the stem of the flower off if you want a second flower, unless you want to keep the seeds.
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