Even more impressive than the Oriental Poppy, this Iranian or Persian Poppy, also called Papaver bracteatum or Great Scarlet Poppy, looks like a giant common poppy. In spring, its tall stems emerge from vigorous vegetation bearing large buds which bloom into scarlet, black spotted corollas, measuring up to 20 cm in diameter; all without bending or breaking. This very hardy perennial is ideal for wilder areas of the garden and the back of beds. It does not require staking or any maintenance and can satisfy itself with deep, even mediocre soil that is dry in the summer.

Native to temperate Asia (from the Caucasus to the Himalayas), this perennial which is closely related to Papaver orientale, is naturalized throughout temperate Europe. Papaver bracteatum or Great Scarlet Poppy looks very much like it, but it often grows to over 1.30 m in height and lives even longer. Its flower buds are erect, underlain by 3 to 5 sepaloid bracts and 2 foliaceous bracts. Its flowers appear earlier, in May - June, and are larger, easily reaching 20 cm in diameter. Their petals are deep red with a black basal spot and surround a large centre packed full of black stamens. The fruits are capsules that are also longer than those of its cousin, measuring about 4 cm in length. They are very ornamental. After the flowering period, the foliage tends to disappear, giving way in autumn to a small basal rosette, which is a typical adaptation to high temperatures and summer drought. This plant has large, rough, cut leaves covered with hairs which give them a very decorative grey-blue sheen. The deep, fleshy roots of this poppy do not tolerate transplanting, especially on adult plants. Sowing directly gives good results.

The Great Scarlet Poppy is an excellent plant for the back of the dry beds that flowers at the same time as most spring flowering species. It goes very well with the anise green colours of Euphorbia cyparissias or Alchemilla mollis. Oriental poppies are just as at home in sophisticated flower beds as they are in monastic gardens or more rural schemes. Combine them with the airy blooms of sagebrush, lavender, asters and catnips. They also go beautifully with Ceratostigma plumbaginoides or Blue deadwood whose blooms will take over later in the year, love-in-a-mist, coneflowers and mulleins, creating a soft-coloured, summery atmosphere. In any case, combine them with perennials since they will fill the space left empty after their last blooms. They are also tough and undemanding plants, capable of living in poor, stony soils that dry out in the summer.