Oriental Poppy Seeds Mix — Papaver orientale

The Most Dramatic Poppy in the Garden

Papaver orientale Mix (Papaver orientale) is the grande dame of the poppy world — enormous, silky blooms in a breathtaking range of colours from fiery scarlet and deep crimson to soft salmon, blush pink, and pure white, each with a striking dark blotch at the base of the petals. These are the poppies that stop people in their tracks. Bold, architectural, and utterly unforgettable in the late spring border — and the show doesn’t end when the petals fall.

Why Gardeners Love It

• 🌺 Enormous silky blooms — up to 15 cm across in a stunning mix of reds, pinks, salmons, and whites
• 🖤 Dramatic dark basal blotch — the signature mark that makes Oriental poppies unmistakable
• 🌿 Ornamental seed pods — large, sculptural pods that are beautiful in dried arrangements long after flowering
• ✂️ Spectacular cut and dried flower — stunning fresh in a vase or dried for long-lasting arrangements
• 📏 Bold and architectural — grows 60–90 cm tall, a statement plant for the middle of the border
• 🌿 Long-lived perennial — establishes a permanent clump that returns and expands year after year
• 🐝 Pollinator magnet — bees are irresistibly drawn to the pollen-rich blooms

Growing Tips for New Zealand

Sow in autumn or early spring onto the surface of moist, well-drained soil — seeds need light to germinate, so do not cover. Papaver orientale prefers full sun and well-drained soil; it dislikes wet winters. Plants go dormant after flowering in early summer — plant later-emerging perennials nearby to fill the gap. Leave seed pods to dry on the plant for cutting and drying. Established clumps can be divided in autumn. Ideal for most NZ regions.

What’s in the Packet

Each packet contains 30 seeds of Papaver orientale Mix (Papaver orientale), with sowing and growing instructions included.