Plant Encyclopedia

Other Names:  Oriental Poppy

Description:

An exquisite and dainty poppy with salmon and coral blooms that have no dark spots; the silky ruffled blooms are stunning when massed in mid-border plantings

Ornamental Features

Helen Elizabeth Poppy features bold salmon round flowers with coral-pink overtones and deep purple eyes at the ends of the stems from late spring to early summer. The flowers are excellent for cutting. Its deeply cut ferny leaves remain grayish green in color throughout the season.

Landscape Attributes

Helen Elizabeth Poppy is an open herbaceous perennial with tall flower stalks held atop a low mound of foliage. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other garden plants with less refined foliage.

This plant will require occasional maintenance and upkeep, and should only be pruned after flowering to avoid removing any of the current season's flowers. Deer don't particularly care for this plant and will usually leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration;

• Self-Seeding

Helen Elizabeth Poppy is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Mass Planting
• General Garden Use

Planting & Growing

Helen Elizabeth Poppy will grow to be about 24 inches tall at maturity, with a spread of 24 inches. When grown in masses or used as a bedding plant, individual plants should be spaced approximately 18 inches apart. It grows at a fast rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 5 years. As an herbaceous perennial, this plant will usually die back to the crown each winter, and will regrow from the base each spring. Be careful not to disturb the crown in late winter when it may not be readily seen! As this plant tends to go dormant in summer, it is best interplanted with late-season bloomers to hide the dying foliage.

This plant does best in full sun to partial shade. It prefers dry to average moisture levels with very well-drained soil, and will often die in standing water. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution, and will benefit from being planted in a relatively sheltered location. Consider applying a thick mulch around the root zone in winter to protect it in exposed locations or colder microclimates. This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America.