Oreomecon alpina

RHS Plant Profile

alpine poppy

Dorling Kindersley 2003

Other common names

alpine parsley

Synonyms

Papaver aurantiacum
Papaver alpinum subsp. ernesti-mayeri
Papaver julicum
Papaver burseri
Papaver kerneri
Papaver rhaeticum
Papaver degenii
Papaver sendtneri
Papaver pyrenaicum subsp. degenii
Papaver lapponicum subsp. occidentale
Papaver alpinum

Alpine Rockery Herbaceous Perennial

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A short-lived perennial to 20cm in height, forming a tuft of pinnately divided leaves, with solitary cup-shaped yellow, orange, red or white flowers to 4cm across in summer

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Chalk, Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.1-0.5 metres

Max Spread

0-0.1 metre

Size

Time to Maturity: 2–5 years
Max Spread: 0-0.1 metre
Max Height: 0.1-0.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Loam Sand

Moisture: 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: Tufted
Genus: A relatively new genus of perennial alpine poppy with long, hairy, leafless stems and solitary red, white, yellow or orange flowers
Name Status: Correct
Plant Range: Mountains of Europe

How to Grow

Cultivation

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

Propagation

Propagate by seed or division

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Gravel garden
Rock garden
Cottage and informal garden
Garden edging

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

May be susceptible to aphids

Diseases

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