Prince of Orange Oriental Poppy

Light Needs

Full Sun

(At Least 6 Hours Of Direct Sunlight)

Mature Height

2.5 Feet

Mature Spread

1.5-2 Feet

Growing Zones

3 to 7

Huge blossoms of vibrant, tangerine orange with a thick, dark eye and black splodges make this poppy a prince among the blooms in your late-spring garden. You will be delighted to see how the silken, crepe-paper flowers attract hummingbirds and other pollinators. An easy-to-grow and long-lived Papaver orientalis, the blooms rise above low-growing, green, fuzzy foliage to a height of 30 inches. This plant goes dormant in summer and comes back in spring. It loves cold winters.

Prince of Orange Oriental Poppy has an upright habit with a low clump of coarse leaves. It has wonderful texture and form. This plant resists deer and rabbits. It makes a dramatic specimen or focal point. Or use it in a mass planting for a stunning effect. Prince of Orange looks beautiful in a bouquet and as a dried flower.

Prince of Orange Oriental Poppy Care

In dry, well-drained soil, dig a hole deep enough for the long, carrot-like roots and add compost. Remove the plant from its pot and place it in the hole at the same depth that it was in the container. Water well. When the plant is established, it needs 1-inch of water each week. It likes pH neutral soil that is average or fertile. Papaver orientalis thrives in clay.

Deadhead the spent flowers because setting seed will reduce the amount of energy the plant needs to produce blooms. Before winter arrives, mulch with leaf mould or bark chippings. Planting poppies in containers is not recommended as they perform better in the garden.

Prince of Orange Oriental Poppy Spacing

Because poppies disappear in summer, plant them with low-growing perennials such as hardy geraniums that will fill the gap in July. Space your poppies about 18-24 inches apart.