Poppy Oriental Wildflower Seed

Oriental Poppy - Papaver Orientalis

Approximate oriental poppy wild flower seeds per pound: 2,780,000
Seeding rate: 2 pounds per acre
Height: 24 - 36 inches
Flower Color: Multicolored range from white to cream, orange to yellow.
Plant Type: Perennial
Flower Type: Poppy
Bloom Time: Early Spring to Late Spring
Is oriental poppy wildflower invasive? No
Is oriental poppy wildflower endangered? No
Is oriental poppy wildflower edible? No
Is orientalpoppy wildflower medicinal? No
Regions: All region of North America, performs as an annual in Southeast.
Zones: 3 - 8
Soil preference: Needs loose soil and prefers neutral or alkaline soils to acidic.
Sun/Shade: Full sun
Moisture Requirements: Average moisture, well-drained.
Germination: Oriental poppy wildflower seeds germinate in 14 - 21 days
Optimum soil temperature for germination: 55F - 60F
Sowing depth: Surface Sow

Oriental poppies add old-fashioned charm to Gardens. These plants usually are easy to grow, but they prefer sunny areas and soil that's well drained. The wild flower seed plants are hardy, and do well in mountain wildflower gardens at high elevations. All poppies including oriental poppy decline rapidly in poorly drained soils. It's not a good idea to plant oriental poppies in areas where soil stays wet for extended periods. Aeration is critical in planting oriental poppy wild flower seed to allow water to drain. The silky, bowl-shaped flowers appear in late spring and burst from distinctive buds covered in bristly hairs. Flower colors include red, orange, pink, white and bi-colored forms. Many of the wildflowers feature inky-dark blotches at the base of the petals and colorful stamens in the center. Oriental poppy has seed pods that will drop its wild flower seed for germination the following spring.

You need to careful where you want to plant oriental poppy wild flower seed. Choose a site with partial to full sun. You do not want a site that is too moist as explained above. The wildflower plants usually grow 2 to 3 feet in length, so plant them near an area where they will not block anything. Much of the foliage disappears in late fall so make sure you plan for a bare spot for this particular wildflower. This is one of the few plants that grows quite easily and successfully from wild flower seed, but transplanting it can be cumbersome. If trying to transplant from a potted wildflower seed pot, then dig a hole about the same depth as the oriental poppy plant was in the pot. Either way, if you grow from wildflower seed or transplant the oriental poppy plant, be sure to turn the soil over well and be sure that the soil is not overly moist. The plants or wild flowers seeds should be placed about 18 to 24 inches apart if direct sowing. You may also broadcast your oriental poppy seed for larger areas.

Sow oriental poppy wild flower seeds well after the last frost has passed. The seed will take approximately two to three weeks to germinate depending on soil temperatures and moisture. Once the stalks begin to grow tall, stake them out for support. Flowers will bloom in the spring, then die, but the green foliage will remain. When your other summer wildlfowers begin to die in the fall, the oriental poppies will randomly bloom into bright bursts of beauty again.

As mentioned above, oriental poppy does not take kindly to saturated soil so be careful not to overwater this wild flower. You can deadhead the dead blooms, as new ones will appear quickly. In midsummer, some of the plants will begin to die back. At that time, cut back the old stems. When the flowers turn to dried pods, you can cut them, or leave them to drop their wild flower seed to produce more oriental poppy the next spring. In winter, cover with mulch. When spring comes, there's no need to clean out the mulch as the giant flowers will cover them. Once the blooms fade, you can start watering your plant less often. As temperatures cool down in September, new foliage emerges from the crown and will stay that way for the winter months. Oriental poppy may may simply be left alone as long as you want. The clumps will become large, but they generally aren't invasive unless the wild flower seed spreads somehow from birds or something of that nature.