Oriental poppy
Papaver orientale
An ornamental plant, planted at any time of year.
In September: nothing to do. It can be planted now.
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Oriental poppy, month by month
Bar: the usual months. Sprout: this month.
| Sowing, planting or job | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | 2027Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plant a pot-grown oriental poppy. | usual | usual | usual | usual | usual | usual | usual | usual | usual | usual | usual | usual |
| Plant a bare-root oriental poppy. | none | none | usual | usual | usual | usual | usual | none | none | none | none | none |
| Lift and divide the oriental poppy. | none | none | none | none | none | none | usual | usual | usual | none | none | none |
| Stake the oriental poppy. | none | none | none | none | none | none | usual | usual | usual | none | none | none |
| Deadhead the oriental poppy. | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | usual | none | none |
| Cut the oriental poppy back hard after flowering. | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | usual | usual | none |
What to do, and when
The usual months for a UK garden. Your own plan gives the week.
Planting
Plant a pot-grown oriental poppy at any time of year, 30 to 40cm apart. Moderate sources: Gardeners’ World and Mr Fothergill’s.
Plant a bare-root oriental poppy November to March, 20 to 30cm apart. Moderate sources: Gardeners’ World and Farmer Gracy.
Lift and divide the oriental poppy
Usually March to May. Strong source: RHS.
Stake the oriental poppy
Hold up each large-flowered stem with a single-stem ring support.
Usually March to May. Moderate source: RHS.
Deadhead the oriental poppy
Usually June. Moderate source: RHS.
Cut the oriental poppy back hard after flowering
Gardeners call this the Hampton hack.
Almost to the ground, straight after its first flowers. Fresh leaves follow, and often a second flush of flowers.
Usually June to July. Moderate source: RHS.
What the source words mean
Strong: the RHS page for this plant is among them.Moderate: another trusted UK source, or the RHS on its group.
Every line above names the page it comes from. Where we found no good source for a job, we left it out. Where the name “Oriental poppy” comes from.