Oriental Poppy Papaver orientale
- Phonetic Spelling
- puh-PAY-ver o-rien-tay-lee
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
-
Oriental Poppy is a clump-forming herbaceous perennial in the poppy family that is native to Central Asia. It bears large cup-shaped flowers in orange, red and pink with black centers in June-July. The thistle-like gray-green leaves die down after flowering and reappear in fall through spring until the next flowering season. They generally don't do well in heat and humidity or south of zone 7.
Plant in well-drained garden soil in full sun and do not over-water to prevent root rot of the deep taproot. Place among plants that will fill in to hid the hole left once die-down occurs.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cottage Garden
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- Peter Pan
compact - Watermelon
- Peter Pan
- Peter Pan, Watermelon
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- Peter Pan
compact - Watermelon
- Peter Pan
- Peter Pan, Watermelon
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Papaver
- Species:
- orientale
- Family:
- Papaveraceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Central Asia
- Wildlife Value:
- This plant attracts bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and other wildlife.
- Play Value:
- Wildlife Food Source
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- sandy soil, loamy soil; dry soil; drought tolerant; deer and rabbit; insect and disease (in general)
- Edibility:
- Even though oriental poppies have some toxicity, condiments have been made out of seed heads when they are young.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 0 ft. 6 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
-
-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Medium
-
-
Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Mountains
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 3b, 4b, 4a, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7b, 7a
-
-
Fruit:
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Summer
- Fruit Description:
- Ripening of seeds occur in mid-late summer (July to August).
-
-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Black
- Orange
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Head
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Good Cut
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Cup
- Flower Petals:
- 7 - 20 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 3-6 inches
- Flower Description:
- Flowers bloom in late spring or early summer. 4-6 inch showy flowers have black/purple centers surrounded by petals that can be pink, red, white, or orange.
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-
Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Description:
- Gray-green basal thistle-like leaves are finely dissected and hairy.
-
-
Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
-
-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Meadow
- Slope/Bank
- Landscape Theme:
- Asian Garden
- Cottage Garden
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Hummingbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Diseases
- Drought
- Dry Soil
- Insect Pests
- Rabbits
-
-
Poisonous to Humans:
- Poison Severity:
- Low
- Poison Symptoms:
- Toxicity (usually low) to animals has occurred from Papaver plants. Since toxicity has occurred with similar plants, it is suggested this plant has toxicity too. All parts are poisonous including the juice.
- Poison Toxic Principle:
- unknown
- Causes Contact Dermatitis:
- No
- Poison Part:
- Bark
- Flowers
- Fruits
- Leaves
- Roots
- Seeds
- Stems
