I did not see the item that you are quoting from, Mbg, but I don't accept the statement. We have Papaver and Meconopsis in our garden and usually plenty of butterflies.

we have poppies and butterflies in our garden, but i have never seen butterflies on the poppies. perhaps that was the mis-understanding.

I actually answered the question re planting Oriental Poppies and since reading the comment that was posted by Dianebulley regarding butterlies not visiting gardens where poppies grow I was a bit confussed - I have done extensive and I mean extensive research, I think I've read every planting for wildlife website etc between here and Oz......the best I could come up with was that the lack of nectar means they are not visited by butterflies.
Like Bulba and SBG I have poppies and have butterflies visit.
Perhaps Diane will see this and give us the reasons why she said that - it would be a shame if the person who asked the question didn't plant poppies because of this.

Perhaps it is just that butterflies don't actually visit the poppies. My garden has poppies, and I certainly get plenty of butterflies - several types.

Thanks everyone for clearing that up! I do have a few oriental poppies and I can excuse them if they don't attract butterflies, as long as they don't put them off the garden. Meconopsis certainly generate lots of bee interest. I too hope Diane sees this thread.