Papaver (Oriental Group) 'Marlene'

RHS Plant Profile

oriental poppy 'Marlene'

Synonyms

Papaver orientale 'Marlene'

Herbaceous Perennial

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An erect, clump-forming herbaceous perennial with finely divided silvery-green foliage and bristly stems. In summer, pendent buds open up to large saucer-shaped reddish-pink flowers with dark blotches at the base of the petals

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Chalk, Loam, Clay, Sand

Max Height

0.5-1 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

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

Growing Conditions

Chalk Loam Clay Sand

Moisture: Moist but well–drained or Well–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun

Aspect: South–facing or West–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): H6

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: Accepted

How to Grow

Cultivation

Will grow well in any kind of soil that is well drained, not too fertile and in full sun. It may require some form of support to avoid collapsing in windy or rainy weather conditions. See staking perennials for further advice

Propagation

Propagate by division in spring or root cuttings in autumn and early winter

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Wildlife gardens
Cottage and informal garden
Low Maintenance
Flower borders and beds

Pruning

Cut back foliage as it dies down

Pests

May be susceptible to aphids

Diseases

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