Perennial: Large 20 cm blooms in red, pink, mauve, salmon, white, and red with black centers. Expect up to twenty flowers per plant, followed by attractive seed pods from which seeds can easily be harvested. Pizzicato oriental poppy seeds are best direct sown in fall or mid-winter, and grow to a height of 50 cm. The flowers appear on stiff stems that stand up well in windy areas. This Oriental poppy mix blooms in June and July, after spring bulbs have faded, but before the arrival of summer flowers. After flowering, seed heads dry and the foliage fades away entirely, returning with autumn rains. This poppy is a good choice for xeriscaping, and it's deer resistant. Greenhouse: The seed requires darkness and a minimum 24 C soil temp. for proper germination. Since seedlings are hard to transplant, sow in peat pots and place them in a flat. Cover seed flat with black plastic or heavy paper. Seed germinates in about 10 days at 60 - 80%. Grow seedlings at 29 C days and l6°C - nights. Do not use cold water on seedlings. Cut all poppies in the bud, dip stems in boiling water for a few seconds to promote full bloom. Direct Sowing: Sow seed in July in warm soil. Do not try to transplant seedlings. Plants are quite hardy and bloom in early June next spring.