About
A vigorous and reliable clump-forming herbaceous perennial with delicately cut silvery-green foliage and tall, bristly stems with pendent buds that open up to large saucer-shaped bright orange flowers with dark blotches at the base of the petals in summer.
About the genus
Papaver can be annuals, biennials or herbaceous perennials with simple or pinnately divided leaves and short-lived, saucer-shaped, 4-petalled flowers which may be solitary or in racemes
Growing conditions
SunlightFull sun
Soil typeChalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureMoist but well-drained, Well-drained
AspectSouth-facing, West-facing
ExposureExposed, Sheltered
UK hardinessH6
Plant details
Plant typeHerbaceous Perennial
HabitClump forming
FoliageDeciduous
Height0.5-1 metres
Spread0.1-0.5 metres
Time to full height1-2 years
Suggested usesCottage and informal garden, Wildlife gardens
Care notes
CultivationWill grow well in any kind of soil that is well drained, not too fertile and in full sun. It may require some form of support to avoid collapsing in windy or rainy weather conditions. See staking perennials for further advice
PruningCut back foliage as it dies down
PropagationPropagate by division in spring or root cuttings in autumn and early winter
Pest resistanceMay be susceptible to aphids
Disease resistanceMay be susceptible to downy mildews, powdery mildews, fungal wilts and verticillium wilt