Papaver orientale

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

Papaver orientale, the Oriental poppy, is a perennial flowering plant native to the Caucasus, northeastern Turkey, and northern Iran.

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. 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.

Table of Synonyms
Name Year Rank Notes
Calomecon orientale (L.) Spach 1838 species ≡ hom.
Papaver dzeghamicum Medw. 1915 species = het.
Papaver grandiflorum Moench 1794 species = het.
Papaver lateritium subsp. monanthum (Trautv.) Kadereit 1996 subspecies = het.
Papaver monanthum Trautv. 1866 species = het.
Papaver oreophilum var. monanthum (Trautv.) N.Busch 1905 variety = het.
Papaver orientale f. flavolactescens Kuntze 1887 form = het.
Papaver orientale var. monanthum (Trautv.) Trautv. 1876 variety = het.
Papaver orientale var. normale Kuntze 1887 variety = het.
Papaver orientale var. parviflora N.Busch 1905 variety = het.
Papaver orientale var. paucifoliatum Trautv. 1876 variety = het.
Papaver paucifoliatum (Trautv.) Fedde 1909 species = het.
Papaver spectabile Salisb. 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):-

NameColour
Aglaja agmsalmon pink
Barr's Whitewhite
Beauty of Livermerered
Black and White agmwhite/black
Brilliantred
Carnivalwhite/orange/red
Carouselwhite/orange picotee
Cedric Morris agmpale pink/black
Effendi agmpale orange
Fatimawhite/pink picotee
GI Joered (double)
Helen Elizabethpink
Indian Chiefmahogany red
John III agmorange-red
Karine agmpale pink / red
NameColour
Khedive agmpale salmon / black
Leuchtfeuer agmorange
Lighthouse agmpale pink/maroon
Maiden's Blushwhite
Olympiaorange
Papillonpink
Patty's Plumplum
Perry's Whitewhite
Picoteewhite/orange picotee
Pinnaclewhite/red
Royal Weddingwhite
Türkenlouisred
Watermelonpink

See also

Oriental Poppies, 1927 painting by Georgia O'Keeffe

References

  1. 1 2 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.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: publisher location (link)
  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

Wikimedia Commons logo Media related to Papaver orientale at Wikimedia Commons