Papaver orientale, the Oriental poppy, is a perennialflowering 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 summerdrought of Central Asia. Gardeners can place late-developing plants nearby to fill the developing gap.
Cultivation
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.
Aside from its natural brilliant orange-scarlet, since the later 19th centuryselective breeding for gardens has created a range of colors from clean white with eggplant-black blotches, through clear true pinks and salmon pinks to deep maroons and plum. In addition petals may be creased or fringed, such as Türkenlouis. Cultivars :-
Related species
Oriental poppies are closely related to the great scarlet poppy Papaver bracteatum, which can be grown for the commercialextraction of thebaine, a common starting material for the production of semisynthetic medicinal opioids.
