Papaver orientale var. bracteatum 'Goliath'
(Great Scarlet Poppy)

Family - Papaveraceae
Category - Perennial
Season of Interest - Summer
Hardiness - H5
Height - Up to 1.2m
Width - 75cm
Location - The House Border

Description: A clump-forming Perennial poppy with an upright habit. The leaves are mid-green and pinnatisect in shape. Very large, rich red poppy flowers have overlapping petals, each marked with a large black blotch at the base. Each Bloom can reach to 15cm or more across. Flowers are produced in early to midsummer and are followed by large seed Capsules.

Not listed in the RHS plant finder. Papaver orientale Goliath Group is quite variable. The plants in the house border were obtained from Great Dixter where the plants are propagated by root cuttings, not seed raised.

Flower:

Rich red, bowl-shaped flowers have broad, overlapping petals, each marked with a large black blotch at the base. Black stamens carrying purple pollen are held at the centre of each bloom. Flowers are produced in June and are followed by large seed capsules.

Flower colour: Red, black

Flower shape: Bowl-shaped flowers

Flowering time: June

Foliage:

Mid-green leaves are pinnatisect in shape with lanceolate, Dentate leaf segments. Both the leaves and stems are covered in bristly hair.

Foliage Senescence: Deciduous

Foliage Shape: Pinnatisect

Propagation:

Root cuttings.

Cultivation:

Best in full sun in fertile, well drained soil.