Papaver commutatum

RHS Plant Profile
Caucasian scarlet poppy

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Caucasian scarlet poppy RHS
Caucasian scarlet poppy Dorling Kindersley 2003

Other common names

dark-spotted poppy

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Annual Biennial
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An upright annual to 40cm, with downy, pinnatifid leaves to 15cm in length and long-stalked flowers 7cm in width, each with four bright red petals, with a large black blotch at the base

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Loam

Max Height

0.1-0.5 metres

Max Spread

0-0.1 metre

Size

Time to Maturity
1–2 years
Max Spread
0-0.1 metre
Max Height
0.1-0.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Loam
Moisture
Well–drained
pH
Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun
Aspect
South–facing or East–facing
Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H5

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Papaveraceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Clump forming
Genus
Papaver can be annuals, biennials or herbaceous perennials with simple or pinnately divided leaves and short-lived, saucer-shaped, 4-petalled flowers which may be solitary or in racemes
Name Status
Correct

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in deep, fertile, well-drained soil in full sun

Propagation

Propagate by seed sown in spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Patio and container plants
  • Mediterranean climate plants
  • Wildflower meadow
  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Flower borders and beds
  • Cut flowers

Pruning

Cut back after flowering

Pests

May be susceptible to aphids

Diseases

May be susceptible to downy mildews, powdery mildews, fungal wilts and verticillium wilt