Papaver orientale Harlem - Oriental Poppy

Papaver orientale or Oriental Poppy 'Harlem' is a tall, elegant perennial with slightly crumpled double flowers, in a remarkable dark colour, from raspberry pink to burgundy pink enhanced by a large heart and almost black macules. This perpetual variety blooms its large flowers from late spring to early summer depending on the region, at the end of sturdy and solid stems facing the wind. The slightly messy, cut foliage forms a lush tuft that stands out in flower beds, in silver-green. The Oriental poppy is a perennial to be grown in all good deep soils, in the sun, in orderly or messy flower beds, as it adapts to many environments.

The Oriental Poppy 'Harlem' is an herbaceous perennial of the poppy family whose wild ancestor originates from Asia. This plant has robust floral stems about 90cm (35in) tall. It forms a bushy tuft reaching 40cm (16in) in height (for foliage) and 50cm (20in) in width. Flowering begins in early June, and continues into July, usually stopped by heat and drought. Each floral stem carries at its tip a single pendulous bud turning towards the sky, giving birth to a large flower, 15cm (6in) in diameter, with crumpled petals in 2 rows, dark raspberry pink in colour and maculated with very dark violet at the base of the corolla. The flower remains open for a few hours before dropping its petals. Well-established plants produce several floral stems, ensuring flower renewal for about 3 weeks. After flowering, the foliage tends to disappear, leaving in autumn a small basal rosette, which is characteristic of an adaptation to high temperatures and summer drought. This plant has large rough green leaves, cut and villous, giving them a decorative slight silver reflection. The fleshy and deep roots of this Oriental poppy do not tolerate transplantation well, especially in adult plants.

Oriental poppies, cousins of poppies, are comfortable in both sophisticated flower beds and cottage gardens or countryside compositions. Associate them with mugworts, lavenders, asters and Nepetas with light flowering. Autumn stonecrops, whose foliage develops during summer, beautifully fill the space left empty by the poppies after their flowering. Annuals like Damask Nigellas and Cosmos lighten the large Poppy flowers for a summer atmosphere in soft colours.