Crimson Red Oriental Poppy

(24-30 tall x 24 wide) Grow this ‘Crimson Red’ Oriental Poppy in well-drained rich soils in full sun. Use the beautiful blossoms in indoor vases, or wait for the fascinating seed pods to form, and cut for summer, fall, and winter arrangements. Deer and rabbit resistant for worry-free gardening. They can tolerate partial shade but will bloom less and may fall prey to fungus. Oriental Poppies are long-lived, and establish a deep taproot, which can be temperamental if you choose to move them mid-season – although pieces of root left after a move may result in a new plant next season. To take advantage of the long-lasting blooms as cut flowers, boil the bottom of the cut stems in water before putting in a vase to thwart the milky sap which stops water uptake. Plants will go dormant in mid-summer, so consider planting them near summer stunners that need a little time to get going in the spring.