Brilliant Oriental Poppy

Light Needs

Full Sun

(At Least 6 Hours Of Direct Sunlight)

Mature Height

2-3 Feet

Mature Spread

3 Feet

Growing Zones

3 to 8

The Brilliant Oriental Poppy, or Papaver Orientale Brilliant, is a striking, bright bloom that is sure to be a focal point in your summer garden. These brilliant, scarlet-orange flowers have bright, crinkled petals that glow in the sunlight. Accented with an inky-black eye, Brilliant Oriental Poppies bloom from late spring to early summer, spanning up to 6 inches across. The stems, leaves, and seed pods are green and hairy, and grow from 24 to 36 inches tall. These fiery flowers are a favorite of butterflies, hummingbirds, and bees.

Native to the Caucasus, Brilliant Oriental Poppies need a winter chill to achieve their best performance. In areas with mild winters, flowers tend to form without stalks, and are often hidden amongst the ferny foliage. This variety of poppies spread by offsets to 2 feet or more, forming leafy clumps. Poppy plants may go dormant during lengthy bouts of hot weather, especially if they have already flowered.

Brilliant Oriental Poppy Care

Brilliant Oriental Poppies prefer loose soil with excellent drainage and room for air circulation. They can also tolerate rocky or sandy soils. These poppies should be lightly fertilized until they are established and grown in full sun. They require moderate to regular watering. Near the end of July, when the foliage declines, poppies should be cut down or pulled by hand. New leafy growth appears in the fall, lasts over the winter, and develops rapidly in the spring.

Oriental Poppies are excellent border flowers and grow well in containers with good drainage. You can set sprawling plants like Gypsophila nearby to cover bare areas after your poppies die down. To lengthen the life of your poppies as cut flowers, the stems should be seared with a flame for 20 to 30 seconds, or dipped in boiling water before being placed in arrangements and bouquets.  

Brilliant Oriental Poppy Spacing

Brilliant Oriental Poppies should be planted 15 to 18 inches apart. Dormant poppy crowns can be planted in the fall with the tops 3 inches deep. They seed independently, and work well as container-grown plants.