Papaver O. 'Patty's Plum' - she ain't plum!

Well, at least the two I have are not.
This is one of those awkward plants that begs for another to either 'echo' or 'play off' the petal colour.
The problem is - what? The only idea I had is a shrub with bronzy or purple-red foliage, which would serve double duty (if tall enough) to hide the dying foliage. Perennials???
Does anyone have a success story with this one? She's been in the ground for a year, and might be a repeat visitor if any root pieces decide to jump ship...
Thanks in advance - Kate

Can we see a photo? I have patti plum, and I do find that everyonce in a while a bit of it will revert to pale orangey pink (out it goes!) but the rest of it is very stable with that wonderful dusty mauve with a touch of old gold mixed in.

Maybe mix it with Euphorbia characias subsp. wulfenii or there's another one - Jade Dragon with simular purple on the undersides of the leaves. They might give you that forefront to hide the yellowing leaves.

I have not had good luck with Patty's Plum. I have it in a large container and if it gets the least bit dry (hard to believe that could happen around here these days!), the foliage dies back. I've had it for three years I think and very little in the way of blooms. I probably should take it from the container and put it in the ground. In my spare time.

Laurie - I believe this one looks "dirty" because the flower portion is in close proximity to a deep purple-red Lily. I might call it dusty mauve on a good day, but it fades out to an undescribable colour: it's a tough one to deal with.

I was interested more in what colour combinations would go well with it.
It is going to get moved to a different location, probably near the Black Sambucus - I think the flowers won't clash, and the foliage colour might help set it off.
Plant is doing well where it is, so siting/environment are not issues, except for Labrador Retriever retrieval-abuse.

retrieal abuse may be an issue for the plant.

sorry, thought you were talking about the reversion to the parent plants - it does do that a bit.

I think the proximity to the sambuca would be very good - and wonder if adding some nice heuchera - the apricotty ones are what I am thinking about (Flambe, Creme Brulee, or Caramel) in the foreground would help too - I cut my Pap foliage back as soon as the blossom goes over, never let it do seed heads - looks awful for a couple weeks, and then I get this lovely flush of new spring green growth that lasts all summer with a bit of reflowering late summer. what about planting some galanthus too - should come into blossom just as the leaves on the pap. get cut back and give a cool clean white blossom with good sword leaves to contrast with the sambuca and distract from the chopped pap until the leaves come through.

PS - and I just order the Crocs you reccommended thank you.

Was I any more helpful this time? Oh, well, I enjoyed it.

This message was edited Jun 25, 2008 11:25 AM

Kate - What about Smoke Bush Grace? It helps to bridge the gap between plum and orange and into some warmer colors.

Yes, and Yes!
Laurie - I've got H. Peach Flambe' as well as the Creme Brulee'. Great - now I'm hungry...
Galanthus is coming up & as well as Acidanthera. One or both might do the trick.

Not enough room to get "Grace" in there, Kathy. But I could plant her elsewhere & move papaver roots to wherever she calls home. I'll have to noodle this one.

I do cut my pap foliage as soon as bloom is done. Always do well here, sometimes too well, as do the Screaming orange and Perry's white P. O's that will NOT die. These are nuclear-proof.
Must have admiration and respect for the Papavers - they just don't quit...
Thank you all.

I have that screaming orange too, and it really won't die - no matter how often I dig it out and am absolutely sure I have all of the root - there it is again. Have decided to live with it and love it. Sheesh.

Well I've taken to ripping the petals off, so the seed pods can be charming on their own. They are in a rose-violet to pink area, so they clash horribly.
I did learn a lesson real well with them: don't plant until you're absolutely certain you want them there. Forever.

Glad I found this thread because I was just complaining to myself the other day the 'patty's plum' was hardly worth the effort. Like Murmur, I have had it for 3 years and have had only a couple of blooms. I do like the color when i get to see it. I'm not sure why I put any energy into growing such a plant. Seems like it should never made it to the mass market. I'm glad I'm not the only one. I thought I was doing something wrong until I realized that all my other poppies bloom like crazy,, so clearly there is something amiss with this one.

Here's a question, off topic, for you who are 'in the know' about euphorbias. I have three E. 'chameleon' plants that look particularly ratty. They apparently have mildew, although I can't imagine why. Can I cut them back at this time? Seems like some euphorbias are tough as dirt, but others are persnickety.

Oh, please don't take Patty Plum off the market!!! It does go like the best of them here! I wish I could tell you why, since we are gardening under similar circumstances - and I have it in both sun and almost deep shade, in both amended and yucky clayey stoney soil, and it does equally well in both spaces - but I do find once established it is brillant. Lift it, move it, and try it again, and please don't give up on this stunner (think of it as an adolescent - it needs your understanding). Pix, talk to it, as a plant parent - talk. Good. don't give up. thank you. that's better. phew, my heart went out to that plantie. make nice.

Laurie - I believe I found a wonderful colour combo for this difficult to place poppy. I have some Berberis Helmund Pillar and a Hypericum 'Albury Purple'along with Japanese Blood grass & peach-gold daylilies. It has a definite gold-cast to the plum, so it really shines against the darker foliage.
The other Oriental Poppies I have are either in full sun or shade - both grow well, but I think they do best in the sun. They tend to stretch & flop in the shade.

Oh, Katye, I am soooooo looking forward to a photo of that combination - just the names alone are mouth watering - Hypericum Albury Purple and Japanese Blood Grass all but bubble up in your mouth when you say it! Lots of good round letter combination there, and 'peach-gold' is just juicy in its description - yup. Photos of both the individual plants and the combo please!

I agree with you that the shadier locations flop more, but just give them a bit of a woven support in the early spring and they are just fine and upright (although a bit of a bugger to trim back unless you remove the support).

Katye I keep wondering how you pronounce your name - is it Katie in the Anglo-American or
Ka-tea-yah (katia) in the middle-European, or another in the 'I-never-thought-of-that'? I am fascinated by the spelling.

This message was edited Jun 28, 2008 8:42 AM

I don't know, Laurie, I've had this for several years now. The first plant met its demise while the poppies around it bloomed and thrived. Then I bought more and put them in a sunnier location. Thus far I haven't even had good foliage out of them. I'm giving them one more year. I do love the color. That's the only reason I haven't given up yet!

Pixy - I will GLADLY part with the massive roots of my Nuclear Orange Poppies - I know they will live for you - I cannot kill them, and Lord knows I have tried. I have a lot of respect for them, though. Anything that can fo through the ringer that multiple times & come out stronger/taller earns its keep.
When I move them, they continue on...and on, and on.. Please let me know.

Laurie - no mystery to the name. Had to change the spelling eons ago: too many Katys/Katies. I go by Kate, or hey you or whatever moniker you choose affix! In my family, we have a rich tradition of bizarre names. Enough said!
I will take a shot of the last bud to bloom. I have not moved it yet, but did rip out the foliage that was trashed by one of my dogs - I guess Papaver leaves are comfy for laying on - and no, I will not replicate to discover for myself...
I am glad that I had a spot by the Berberis Helmund Pillar - It has plenty of space for stretching up & out & close enough to lean when support is needed. I had forgotten about my H. Albury purple - the root mass survived much & came back after 2 years. Another plant to move, but finding the right combo can be energizing.
Funny how much colour impacts some folks. A mismatch will tweak my eye too much, and
bother me until I redo. This poppy was in a large planting of red to plum-purple (foliage & flower), and it screamed as soon as it bloomed. when I carried the flower around to various possible locations, there was a quiet revelation of colour form & textures. That is one thing I aim for - just right instead of really wrong!!! Only wish i had landed there the first time.
A hot week ahead for us here - watering the lawn (it's a crop for my compost), and all the beds. The birds are loving the water, and timing each other for their respective turns. I for one am loving the heat, as are the roses. I may feel differently when I start the weedeating process.

Hope you all have a fantastic gardening week!!!

OH , thanks, Kayte, but it's only the 'patty's plum' poppies that do poorly for me. I have PLENTY of the nuclear orange ones! And also of the salmon colored ones. Every little rootlet wants to live. LOL! Thanks, just the same, though!

Pixy - sounds like my Phygelius: everywhere you don't expect it those rootlets will sprout. And I do mean EVERYWHERE.
Lessons learned:
1. plant where you want it & do not move.
2. do not give it the most luxurious soil to grow in as it will grow luxuriously.

Patty's Plum grew well - too well. It was sited downhill from my miniature rhodies (bronzed foliage - which worked), and right by a stand of deep plummy-red lilies. (aaak!)
So, "plum" doesn't necessarily mean "plum". A rich stand with 8 flowers - pretty good for a one-year old plant.
Moving it, and I will dig quite deep - don't want any surprises later.

I can only wish! Maybe I will move mine in the fall to richer and moister soil. It's been in full sun both places I've sited it, and the first place it had plenty of water. But maybe third time is a charm.
I think that in general I do not have enough sun for the phygelius to go nuts for me. I know some people don't like them because they go crazy in their yards. So far that has not been an issue for me but who knows? Maybe this year they will go insane.
What gloriously hot weather! It almost makes me want to sit down with a cool drink!