One of the most flamboyant flowers of the early summer garden, Poppy Oriental Trio Collection brings together three of our most popular varieties. These perennial poppies offer huge, blowsy blooms with paper-thin, silky petals counterposed against a bold central boss - creating an unmistakable flower form that offers both delicate texture and strong structure.
Although their main blooming season is May and June, Oriental Poppies offer a season of interest that extends far beyond. The distinctive seeds heads continue to have an architectural presence in the border long after the flowers have faded. After flowering, cut down the whole plant to the ground and in good summers a second smaller flush will result. Cutting down also means that plants occupy little space for the rest of summer, creating an opportunity for interplanting with summer bedding.
Oriental poppies form a basal clump of deeply divided, hairy leaves with strong stems carrying fat, pendent buds in early summer. As the buds begin to open, they reveal a tantalising glimpse of their crepe-like petals. The buds eventually burst into large, bowl-shaped flowers up accented with a purple-black blotches at the base and a bold central boss. The silky, over-sized flowers make a glamorous display, but Poppy orientale is a deceptively tough perennial thriving best in sunny, free-draining sites. The flowers are loved by bees and butterflies, making it a good choice for the wildlife-friendly garden.
Poppy Oriental Trio Collection contains the following varieties:
- Poppy orientale - Large, bowl-shaped, brilliant crimson flowers up to 15cm across, accented with purple-black blotches at the base and a bold central boss. Height and spread: 50cm (20in) to 1m (39in).
- Poppy orientale ‘Pink Perfection’ – Eye-catching, candy-pink poppy with dark basal blotches and shaggy petals that offer additional textural interest. Height 80cm (31in). Spread: 40cm (16”).
- Poppy orientale ‘Perry's White’ - Startling white petals form a large, silky bowl around 20cm in diameter, with purple-black basal blotches and a dark boss exercising a dramatic contrast. Height and spread: 50cm (20in) to 1m (39in).
Quintessential cottage garden perennials offering flamboyant, silky blooms that create striking texture and structure plus architectural seed heads.
These plants are lifted from the nursery field when dormant and sent to you in late autumn or spring for planting. They often look dead on arrival, but they are just resting in the dormant period and will establish quickly for a strong start in the garden come spring. Set out in prepared soil in holes wide enough and deep enough to lay out the roots. Tread down the planting soil to knock out air pockets. Water well to settle. Apply a mulch to protect roots from cold temperatures. If conditions prevent immediate planting, set roughly into loose soil or a pot of compost (‘heeling in’) to protect the roots. The growth points of most bare root perennials should be set about an inch below the soil surface. New growth will appear in spring.
When growing Oriental Poppies, choose a sunny position in rich fertile, well drained soil. Add plenty of well rotted manure or garden compost to the soil prior to planting, mixing it thoroughly and deeply.
