Papaver orientale Harvest Moon - Oriental Poppy

The Papaver (Oriental Group) ‘Harvest Moon’, or Papaver orientale ‘Harvest Moon’, is an Oriental poppy with large, semi-double to double flowers of a soft orange. They open in late spring atop sturdy stems that emerge from a beautiful dissected foliage. This variety stands out from classic red poppies by its ripe mandarin colour and the absence of large black blotches at the base of the petals. It is suitable for sunny borders and perennial beds in well-drained soil.

This poppy belongs to the family Papaveraceae. The Oriental horticultural group brings together perennial poppies derived from Papaver orientale and related forms, grown for their large flowers that appear in late spring, their hairy stems and dissected foliage. The type species Papaver orientale occurs from eastern Turkey to northern Iran, in regions with cold winters and dry summers. This life cycle can be observed in the garden: the plant grows vigorously in spring, flowers before the onset of strong heat, and then often goes dormant in summer. Therefore, do not be alarmed if the foliage yellows after flowering. New leaves may appear when the soil re-moistens in autumn. It is a deciduous herbaceous perennial. It forms a clump 40 to 60 cm across and flower stalks 70 to 90 cm tall. The leaves are greyish-green, rough, hairy, deeply dissected into irregular lobes. They form a fairly dense basal clump in spring. The flower buds, nodding at first, straighten just before the corollas open. The flowers, about 10 cm wide, have thin, crumpled petals, soft orange to deep orange depending on the light. The centre shows dark stamens and a central disc. The flowers do not last long, but several buds follow on a well-established plant. After flowering, rounded capsules form containing a multitude of tiny seeds. The roots of this poppy are fleshy, deep and brittle; this explains its good drought resistance, but also its sensitivity to transplanting. Perfectly hardy (–20 °C and colder), it only fears excessive winter moisture in clay soils.

An excellent transitional plant for borders, the Oriental poppy 'Harvest Moon' flowers during a gap period (after spring blooms and before summer ones). Plan for neighbours that can occupy the space when its foliage disappears in summer, without crowding its crown. It pairs very well with the chartreuse green of the common lady's mantle or the 'cypress spurge. The Stachys byzantina ‘Big Ears’ will surround it with a grey and woolly cushion and the Origanum ‘Rosenkuppel’ will take over in summer.