About
A reliably compact perennial poppy, to 50cm high, with bristly stems and delicately cut, dark green leaves with fine silvery hairs. In late spring to early summer, cup-shaped flowers with ruffled petals are produced in a range of colours, from white to pink, orange and red, all with small dark blotches at the base of the petals.
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 hardinessH7
Plant details
Plant typeHerbaceous Perennial
HabitBushy
FoliageDeciduous
Height0.1-0.5 metres
Spread0.1-0.5 metres
Time to full height1-2 years
Suggested usesCottage and informal garden, Patio and container plants
Care notes
CultivationWill thrive in most soils, as long as there is good drainage, but a moderately fertile, humus-rich soil that is not too acidic is ideal. Position in full sun
PruningCut spent flowering stems back to the ground, unless seed heads are required. Cut back foliage as it fades in summer
PropagationPropagate by division in spring, or by root cuttings in late autumn and early winter. Plants may produce seed, but seedlings may not be true to the parent plant
Pest resistanceMay be susceptible to aphids
Disease resistanceMay be susceptible to downy mildews, powdery mildews, fungal wilts and verticillium wilt