The strong, upright 24″ plants produce dramatic 5″ blooms in shades of red, bright pink, pink, orange, and even an unusual plum. Blooms are ruffled and centers are dark. Perennial Zones 4-8.

50 seeds

PLANTING

Papaver orientale

Perennial, Zones 4-8

Germination:10-30days

Germination Temperature:Optimum soil temperatures 60-65F

Seed Planting Depth:Sow on the surface, light aids germination

Starting Indoors:Difficult to transplant. Roots and stems are fragile. Start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost. Sowing into individual biodegradable peat/cow pots reduces rootdamage when transplanting. Sow 2-3 seeds per cell/pot. Transplanta few weeks before last frost.

Sowing Outdoors:Early spring as soon as ground can be workedor in the fall. Sow a few seeds every 6-9″ or prepare a weed free seed bedandsprinkle down seeds. Thin theseedlings 6-9″ apart.Do not startpoppies in hot weather. Germination and growth will be poor sow them in late falland early spring.

Growth Habit:Upright

Height and Width:24-30 x 18-24″

Spacing:16-20 apart

Light Needs:Full sun

Soil Needs:Average to fertile, well-drained

Approximate days to flower from seed:Blooms the second year, but often blooms the first season when started early indoors. May-June

Uses:Flower beds, cottage and wildflower gardens,attracts pollinators