Oriental Poppy 'Queen Alexandra' (Papaver orientale) features large, crepe papery, cup-shaped, bright salmon-pink flowers with a dark eye and black splotches at their base. Borne on strong stems from late spring to early summer, the satiny flowers provide a lovely floral display year after year.

• Growing in clumps up to 30 in. tall (75 cm) and spreading 18-24 in. (45-60 cm), the flowers are generally 4-6 in. wide (10-15 cm) and rise on long stalks clad with thistle-like, silvery-green leaves.
• Prefers full sun to very light shade and enjoys rich, fertile, medium moisture, well-drained soils. Average garden soils are acceptable as long as drainage is good. This plant doesn't respond well to high summer heat and humidity. Mulch in winter until well established.
• Easy to grow, long-lived and virtually care-free, it is also deer and rabbit tolerant.
• Perfect for borders and beds, rock gardens, cottage gardens.This plant goes dormant after flowering. Combining it with Baby's Breath (Gypsophila paniculata), Russian sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia) or Shasta Daisy (Chrysanthemum x superbum) as a superb way of filling the gaps left by the dormant poppies.
• The seedpods that follow the fading flowers are also quite attractive and can be used in dried flower arrangements, or left in the garden for the visual interest they bring.
• This Oriental Poppy may be grown from seed, and tends to self-seed in the garden.
• The best time to plant poppies is in the fall. Container-grown plants can be planted in spring.