Oriental poppies are such bright, exotic looking flowers that they are best grouped with plants with green or gray foliage plants such as hostas or lamb's ears, and evergreens like junipers or dwarf conifers. White-flowered perennials make good companions, too. Many gardeners plant annual flowers or sprawling baby's breath alongside Oriental poppies, because they fill in the bare space left when the poppies go dormant and their leaves die back in mid-summer. Locate them in the garden between the short plants at the front and the very tall ones at the back of the bed.
Cutting/Displaying Indoors: Cut barely open flowers for indoor display in the early morning, with a clean, sharp knife or pruners. Sear the cut ends with a flame to keep the milky sap from "bleeding". Then plunge the stems into a pail of warm water for a few hours or overnight. Before arranging, remove leaves that will be below the water line. Flowers last 3 to 4 days. For more information see the files on Keeping Cut Flowers and Cut Flower Supplies
Drying: The seed pods of Oriental poppies are very attractive in dried arrangements and wreaths. Simply cut the flower stems after the petals have fallen and hang them upside down in bunches in a warm, dry room to air dry. For more information see Drying Flowers and Flower Drying Supplies
