Papaver orientale Brilliant

The Oriental poppy 'Brilliant' or Papaver orientale Brilliant is the typical poppy of the well-kept garden, with its vibrant scarlet red colour, maculated with black at the centre of its silky petals. This timeless and hardy perennial will easily integrate into sunny flower beds that it will enliven all summer long. It is also distinguished by its vigorous growth and its sturdy stems emerging from beautiful bluish-green foliage. Its attractive seed heads at the end of the season are useful in dried flower arrangements. Its foliage completely disappears to enter dormancy in the heart of summer and reemerges in autumn to flower again as soon as the temperatures become milder. 

The Oriental poppy is a herbaceous perennial plant from the Papaveraceae family, native to Asia. The 'Brilliant' cultivar is a horticultural selection that has proven itself. This plant has robust stems that reach a height of about 70cm (28in) to 1m (3ft). It forms a bushy clump reaching 45cm (18in) in height (for the foliage) and 50cm (20in) in width. Flowering begins in early June and continues into July, usually stopped by heat and drought. Each flower stem bears at its tip a single pendant bud that turns towards the sky, giving birth to a large single flower with slightly crumpled silky petals, a very bright red colour with black markings at the base of the corolla. The flower remains open for a few hours before dropping its petals. Well-established plants produce several flower stems, ensuring the renewal of flowers for about 3 weeks. After flowering, the foliage tends to disappear, giving way, in autumn, to a small basal rosette, which is characteristic of an adaptation to high temperatures and summer drought. This plant has large rough leaves, divided and hairy, giving them a very decorative grey-blue reflection. The fleshy and deep roots of this Oriental poppy do not tolerate transplantation well, especially in mature plants.

An excellent transitional plant for flower beds, the Oriental poppy 'Brilliant' blooms during a lull period (after spring blooms and before summer blooms). It pairs well with Euphorbia cyparissias or Alchemilla mollis. Oriental poppies are equally at home in sophisticated flower beds as they are in well-kept gardens or natural compositions. Pair them with mugworts, lavenders, asters, and nepetas with light blooms. They also beautifully accompany autumn stonecrops whose foliage develops during the summer, Damask roses, and cosmos for a summery ambiance with soft colours. In any case, accompany them with perennials as they will fill the space left empty after flowering. They are also hardy and undemanding plants, capable of living in poor, rocky, and dry soils in summer.