Papaver 'Harvest Moon' Poppy is a perennial plant that graces your garden with its vibrant blooms from late spring to summer. But its striking black seedpods extend its appeal beyond the blooming season. This robust, long-lasting plant features large flowers with a distinctive black center, encircled by delicate, crepe-like petals in a soothing orange hue. Sitting atop a long, bristly stem, the blooms attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds to the garden. They also make exquisite cut flowers.
As a cultivar of Papaver orientale, commonly known as the oriental poppy, 'Harvest Moon' boasts deep fleshy roots and a clumping, spreading habit of grey-green leaves that lend the plant an ethereal presence. These poppies make stunning standalone or container plants, but truly shine when arranged in groups or masses in mixed beds and borders. They pair well with Siberian iris, baby's breath, and herbaceous peonies, which fill in the space when poppies go dormant. Annuals like nicotiana or cosmos also effectively cover the gap.
Oriental poppies thrive in full sunny and organically rich, fertile, medium moist, well-draining soil. They are not tolerant of drought or overly wet, poorly drained soils. These cold-hardy plants prefer cool summer climates and may need some light afternoon shade in hot summer climates. Regular deadheading keeps the poppies blooming. They freely self-seed in suitable conditions, returning year after year. However, new plants may not be identical. These beauties also have the added advantage of being deer resistant.
