Are oriental poppies perennials?
Oriental poppies are perennials in zones 3 through 8, so they will come back in most American gardens. If you live in a cold weather zone, you may want to mulch your planting site in fall to protect your poppy roots through the winter months.
How long do oriental poppies bloom?
Oriental poppies start blooming in late spring, and have a long bloom time. With a mixture like those in our Mixed Oriental Poppies, you'll see a little variety in bloom time, too, creating an ongoing cascade of color. Each flower blooms for just a couple of weeks, but they tend to start blooming at different times, creating a nice waterfall effect.
Do oriental poppies multiply?
Oriental poppies are herbaceous plants, meaning that they're grown from an underground root system. While they don't multiply easily by self-seeding, the root system of oriental poppies grows year after year. However, oriental poppies do not multiply quickly enough to become invasive.
Every five years or so, divide your poppies to prevent overcrowding. You likely won't need to do this often-these flowers won't overgrow their planting site! To divide oriental poppies, dig up the entire plant clump. You may need to dig deep, as oriental poppies have long roots. Using a clean knife, cut vertically through the roots. Make sure each piece has some buds, a stem, and a good amount of roots. Plant the sections so their tops are a few inches below the soil line.
Will oriental poppies bloom the first year?
Oriental poppies will bloom the first year, but you may not see their full display until the following year. By the second year they've been growing, your poppies will provide large, open blooms, borne on thicker stems than the ones you'll see during the first year.
Do oriental poppies grow back every year?
Their perennial nature makes oriental poppies stand out among other poppies, which are typically grown as annuals from seed. With oriental poppies, you'll see your plants return year after year.
When should I plant poppy bulbs?
Oriental poppies can be planted in the spring or the fall-at Michigan Bulb, we ship your plants and bulbs at the time they are ready to plant, making it extra easy to know when to put your bulbs in the ground. Poppies like these join peonies, iris, and other herbaceous plants that should be planted in fall so that they can settle in before springtime.
How do you plant oriental poppy bulbs?
Your oriental poppies will be shipped as bare roots, ready to plant in the fall. If possible, plant them as soon as you receive them, or within a few days.
Before planting oriental poppies take a look at the roots you've received. Use clean scissors to trim any rotted or damaged pieces. Some gardeners like to soak bare root poppies in water for twenty minutes before planting, to make the roots more pliable.
Dig a hole deep enough to accommodate the roots without bending them. If you're planting several plants, space them a foot or so apart to give them plenty of space to grow. As you plant, the base of the stem should be level with the ground, and the roots should be spread out at the base of the hole. Water the plant in well as you backfill. Then, mulch over the planting space as part of your fall garden prep.
