Acclaimed for their goblet-shaped flowers, Papaver orientale, or oriental poppies as they are best known, are a gardener's favourite.Long thought of as the 'queen of the early summer border', large, vibrant, crinkled, tissue-paper-like blooms, provide a cheerful display. Like the most glamorous of gowns, blowsy silken blooms will delight and impress you in striking, beautiful shades.Silvery-green, fuzzy foliage forms a clumping plant which will reach a spread of 60cm in 2-5 years and can be divided in autumn. The flamboyant flowers are fleeting, but the seedpod left standing adds another dimension to the garden or can be cut to add texture to your flower arrangements.Oriental poppies are an excellent choice for both modern and traditional planting schemes, where their beauty will sit well beside other plants. Poppies grow well in a range of soils and benefit from a handful of organic matter at the time of planting. Place in a sunny to partially shaded spot and add staking when the stems emerge to support the large blooms as they can reach heights of 75cm, flowering from May to July.
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