Papaver orientale 'Burning Heart'

oriental poppy

• Position: full sun
• Soil: moist, well-drained
• Rate of growth: fast-growing
• Flowering period: May to July
• Hardiness: fully hardy
  
  Crinkled, pinkish-purple petals that surround a darker reddish purple centre, form giant, bowl-shaped flowers on upright, bristly stems. These are one of the most showy of all the early summer perennials, and once the petals fall, the seedneads will slowly ripen and create an interesting feature, which can be left in the garden for several months, or picked and dried before adding to indoor arrangements. Their spectacular flowers look incredible when incorporated into a cottage-garden, or try planting them alongside grasses in prairie-style schemes.
  
  
• Garden care: Cut back to ground level after flowering. Lift and divide large clumps in autumn.