Papaver orientale

"Oriental poppy" redirects here. For other uses, see Oriental poppies.

Oriental poppy
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Order:	Ranunculales
Family:	Papaveraceae
Genus:	Papaver
Species:	P. orientale
Binomial name
Papaver orientale L.
Synonyms [1]
Calomecon orientale Papaver dzeghamicum Papaver grandiflorum Papaver monanthum Papaver paucifoliatum Papaver spectabile

Papaver orientale, the Oriental poppy, ^[2] is a perennial flowering plant ^[3] native to the Caucasus, northeastern Turkey, and northern Iran. ^[4]

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 summer drought of Central Asia. Gardeners can place late-developing plants nearby to fill the developing gap.

Taxonomy

The scientific name Papaver orientale was established in 1753 by Linnaeus. ^[5] The species is classified in the genus Papaver within the wider family Papaveraceae. It has no varieties that are accepted, but does have four among its thirteen synonyms. ^[1]

Table of Synonyms

Name	Year	Rank	Notes
Calomecon orientale(L.) Spach	1838	species	≡ hom.
Papaver dzeghamicumMedw.	1915	species	= het.
Papaver grandiflorumMoench	1794	species	= het.
Papaver lateritium subsp. monanthum(Trautv.) Kadereit	1996	subspecies	= het.
Papaver monanthumTrautv.	1866	species	= het.
Papaver oreophilum var. monanthum(Trautv.) N.Busch	1905	variety	= het.
Papaver orientale f. flavolactescensKuntze	1887	form	= het.
Papaver orientale var. monanthum(Trautv.) Trautv.	1876	variety	= het.
Papaver orientale var. normaleKuntze	1887	variety	= het.
Papaver orientale var. parvifloraN.Busch	1905	variety	= het.
Papaver orientale var. paucifoliatumTrautv.	1876	variety	= het.
Papaver paucifoliatum(Trautv.) Fedde	1909	species	= het.
Papaver spectabileSalisb.	1796	species	≡ hom., nom. superfl.
Notes: ≡ homotypic synonym  ; = heterotypic synonym

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.^{[ citation needed ]}

Cultivars

Cultivars (those marked agm have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit):- ^[6]

Name Colour Aglaja agm [7] salmon pink Barr's White white Beauty of Livermere red Black and White agm [8] white/black Brilliant red Carnival white/orange/red Carousel white/orange picotee Cedric Morris agm [9] pale pink/black Effendi agm [10] pale orange Fatima white/pink picotee GI Joe red (double) Helen Elizabeth pink Indian Chief mahogany red John III agm [11] orange-red Karine agm [12] pale pink / red

Name Colour Khedive agm [13] pale salmon / black Leuchtfeuer agm [14] orange Lighthouse agm [15] pale pink/maroon Maiden's Blush white Olympia orange Papillon pink Patty's Plum plum Perry's White white Picotee white/orange picotee Pinnacle white/red Royal Wedding white Türkenlouis red Watermelon pink

Gallery

• 
  Türkenlouis red, highly fringed
• 
  Olympia orange
• 
  Papillon pink
• 
  Papaver Orientale (Fruit Punch Poppy) found at the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens
• 
  Cedric Morris salmon pink
• 
  Pattys Plum plum

See also

Oriental Poppies , 1927 painting by Georgia O'Keeffe

References

1. POWO (2025). "Papaver orientale L." Plants of the World Online . Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew . Retrieved 26 December 2025.
2. BSBI List 2007 (xls). Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland. Archived from the original (xls) on 2015-06-26. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
3. USDA Profile
4. "Papaver orientale". Germplasm Resources Information Network . Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture . Retrieved 10 January 2018.
5. Linne, Carl von (1753). Species Plantarum. Vol. 1. Holmiae :Impensis Laurentii Salvii. p. 508.
6. "AGM Plants - Ornamental" (PDF). Royal Horticultural Society. July 2017. p. 71. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
7. "RHS Plant Selector - Papaver orientale 'Ajaga'" . Retrieved 16 January 2021.
8. "RHS Plant Selector - Papaver orientale 'Black and White'" . Retrieved 16 January 2021.
9. "RHS Plant Selector - Papaver orientale 'Cedric Morris'" . Retrieved 16 January 2021.
10. "RHS Plant Selector - Papaver orientale 'Effendi'" . Retrieved 16 January 2021.
11. "RHS Plant Selector - Papaver orientale 'John III'" . Retrieved 16 January 2021.
12. "RHS Plant Selector - Papaver orientale 'Karine'" . Retrieved 16 January 2021.
13. "RHS Plant Selector - Papaver orientale 'Khedive'" . Retrieved 16 January 2021.
14. "RHS Plant Selector - Papaver orientale 'Leuchtfeuer'" . Retrieved 16 January 2021.
15. "RHS Plant Selector - Papaver orientale 'Lighthouse'" . Retrieved 16 January 2021.

Sources

• Garden Guides: Oriental Poppy varieties

External links

Media related to Papaver orientale at Wikimedia Commons