The Oriental poppy is botanically named Papaver orientale and has orange scarlet petals with blotches of black located nearest the center; they can also bloom in colors of pink, red, orange, and an almost white color. This is one of the poppy plants that is legal to grow in every country and a favorite of gardeners.

When planted from seed the poppy takes between 10 and 20 days to germinate and must be planted after the last frost when the ground reaches approximately 70 degrees, and will bloom in late spring or early summer. They enjoy full sun and soil that is mildly acidic; in the right conditions the poppy is a hardy flower that will take little work.

The poppy with its beauty will attract bees, butterflies and birds; they are one of the favorite flowers for many gardeners in gardens around the world. For many gardeners, they start out the flower season each year with their large petals and long stems.