Papaver orientale Princess Victoria Louise - seeds

Oriental Poppy 'Prinzessin Viktoria Luise', more commonly known as 'Princess Victoria Louise', is a magnificent perennial that can also be grown from seeds. It is a spectacular Oriental poppy that produces very large pastel flowers, woven with silky salmon pink and adorned with beautiful dark spots. They bloom in June-July, at the top of tall stems, dominating lush and somewhat dishevelled foliage that stands out in flower beds. A regular in cottage gardens, the Oriental poppy is a hardy and very easy to grow perennial in all deep soils, in the sun. 

Papaver orientale is a herbaceous perennial of the Papaveraceae family, native to Asia. 'Princess Victoria Louise' is a superb cultivar derived from this species. The plant has sturdy floral stems 80 to 90 cm tall. It forms a bushy clump reaching 40-50 cm in height (for the foliage) and 50-60 cm in width. Flowering begins in June, and continues into July, usually halted by heat and drought. Each floral stem carries a single pendulous bud that turns upwards. The petals, crumpled in the bud, unfold at anthesis like butterfly wings, giving rise to a very large flower, 15 to 20 cm in diameter, with 4 thick and crimped petals arranged in two rows forming a cup. Their colour is a soft and bright salmon pink, with blackish-purple spots at the base. The centre of the flower is occupied by numerous stamens of a very dark violet with bluish reflections. The flower remains open for a few hours before dropping its petals. Well-established plants produce several floral stems, ensuring the renewal of flowers for about 3 weeks. After flowering, the foliage tends to disappear, leaving a small basal rosette in autumn, which is indicative of an adaptation to high temperatures and summer drought. The wind disperses the seeds by shaking the fruit. This plant has large rough, deeply cut and hairy, dark green leaves. The fleshy and deep roots of this Oriental poppy do not tolerate transplantation well, especially in mature plants. In dry climates, the plant completely disappears from the surface of the soil in summer. 

Oriental poppies, with their giant poppy-like flowers, are equally as at home in sophisticated flower beds as they are in cottage gardens or rustic compositions. Pair them with shrubby wormwoods 'Powis Castle', daisies or Leucanthemums, tall thistles, chamomiles, lavenders, summer asters, and nepetas with their simple blooms. They also beautifully accompany pastel roses and autumn stonecrops whose foliage develops during the summer, Damask daisies and cosmos for a summery atmosphere in soft colours. In all cases, accompany them with perennials, as they will fill the space left empty after flowering. The decorative seed heads of poppies can be used in dried flower arrangements. Bouquets can also be made with flowers picked in bud.