06/15/2026
Plant of the Month - June
Oriental poppy, Papaver orientale
Few plants announce the arrival of early summer quite like Papaver orientale, the Oriental poppy. With blooms that can reach the size of a dinner plate, this bold perennial has captivated gardeners for centuries and is an excellent fit for the Okanagan’s hot, dry summers.
Native to the meadows and hillsides of southwestern Asia, Oriental poppies are built for drought. They emerge in spring, producing deeply lobed, bristly grey-green foliage before sending up stiff stems topped with enormous, papery blooms. The flowers typically appear in late May through June in the Okanagan in colours ranging from fiery scarlet and orange to softer shades of salmon, pink, and white, usually with a dramatic dark blotch at the base of each petal. Although not particularly long-blooming, they are irresistible when in flower.
After flowering, the foliage dies back completely by midsummer, a quirk that catches some gardeners off guard. This summer dormancy is actually an advantage in xeriscape design as the plant requires virtually no water during its period of dormancy. Plan for this gap by surrounding Papaver orientale with late-season bloomers like Agastache cultivars (Hyssop), Salvia yangii (Russian sage), or ornamental grasses, which will fill in as the poppy vanishes.
Find out more on the blog post!
https://okanaganxeriscape.org/oriental-poppy/
