Red and White Oriental Poppy Collection

This collection of red and white Oriental poppies brings together 3 excellent perennial varieties that bloom from June to July in a very invigorating combination of red and white. The large flowers with crumpled silk petals are carried by tall, sturdy stems, towering over lush and velvety foliage that stands out in flower beds. A familiar sight in cottage gardens, the Oriental poppy is a hardy perennial that is truly easy to grow in all good, deep soils in full sun.

The collection consists of:

- 1 poppy or Papaver orientale 'Picotee': a fairly stout variety (60-70 cm tall), with slightly ruffled flowers measuring 12-14 cm, more or less edged with orange to salmon on a white background, dark centre surrounded by almost black macules.

- 1 poppy or Papaver orientale 'Royal Wedding': floral stems reaching 80 cm, pure white silk corollas with black central macules measuring up to 20 cm in diameter.

- 1 poppy or Papaver orientale 'Brilliant': the typical cottage garden poppy, with a scarlet red flower speckled with black in the centre. Its floral stems rise to 90 cm.

The Papaver orientale, also known as the Tournefort poppy, forms a bushy clump that thickens over the years. Its large, rough, hairy leaves have a decorative grey-blue or silvery sheen. The fleshy and deep roots of the Oriental poppy do not tolerate transplantation well, especially in mature plants.

Oriental poppies are excellent perennial plants for flower beds. Behind their large crumpled petal flowers lies a very robust plant capable of surviving in very dry soils during summer. After abundant flowering in late spring, the poppy dries up, starting with the floral stems, which can be used in dried bouquets, followed by the leaves. It completely disappears to enter dormancy in the heart of summer and re-emerges in autumn to bloom again as soon as the temperatures become milder. Its only fear is winter moisture; in clay soils, the solution is to replace the soil with pure sand in the planting hole. Space the plants 40-50 cm apart. Accompany them with perennials, as they will fill the space after flowering.

Oriental poppies are ideal for sophisticated flower beds, cottage gardens, or rustic compositions. Combine these red and white Oriental poppies with daisies, thistles, and catnips with delicate blooms. You can also plant them with autumn stonecrops, for example. The vibrant colours of spurges and ladies' mantles blend perfectly with red and white.