Papaver (Oriental Group) 'Pizzicato'

RHS Plant Profile

oriental poppy 'Pizzicato'

Synonyms

Papaver orientale 'Pizzicato'
Papaver 'Pizzicato'

Herbaceous Perennial

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A reliably compact perennial poppy, to 50cm high, with bristly stems and finely divided, dark green leaves with fine silvery hairs. In late spring to early summer, cup-shaped flowers with ruffled petals are produced in a range of colours, from white to pink, orange and red, all with small dark blotches at the base of the petals

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.1-0.5 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

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

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Loam 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): H7

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Papaveraceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Bushy
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 thrive in most soils, as long as there is good drainage, but a moderately fertile, humus-rich soil that is not too acidic is ideal. Position in full sun

Propagation

Propagate by division in spring, or by root cuttings in late autumn and early winter. Plants may produce seed, but seedlings may not be true to the parent plant

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Cottage and informal garden
Patio and container plants
Cut flowers
Flower borders and beds

Pruning

Cut spent flowering stems back to the ground, unless seed heads are required. Cut back foliage as it fades in summer

Pests

May be susceptible to aphids

Diseases

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