California Poppy
Eschscholzia californica. PAPAVERACEAE.
Planting and Growing California Poppy
You’ll find everything you need to know to plant and grow California poppy in the accompanying table’s tabs:
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- Flowers, foliage, and root structure of California poppy
- Plant hardiness and growing conditions for California poppy
- Season of bloom and planting time for California poppy
- When, how deep, and where to plant California poppy
- How to plant California poppy
- Watering, fertilizing, care, and pests or diseases of California poppy
- Landscape and container uses of California poppy
- Comments about California poppy and its features
Growing California Poppy
Several hybrids, cultivars of mounding, deciduous perennial herbs, 6–24 in. (15–60 cm) tall. Matte, blue green, gray green, finely cut, deeply lobed, feathery leaves, to 4 in. (10 cm) long.
Common cultivars with varied color blooms include Eschscholzia californica ‘Alba’, ‘Aurantiaca’, ‘Ballerina’, ‘Compacta’, ‘Crocea’, ‘Dali’, ‘Monarch Art Shades’, ‘Rosea’, and ‘Thai Silk’.
Mexican poppy, Eschscholzia mexicana, and tufted California poppy, Eschscholzia caespitosa, are related annual species with similar care needs.
Planting and Care Guide
Blooms
Showy, gold, red, yellow, variegated, cup-shaped, poppylike, 4-petaled flowers, to 2‑1/2‑in. (63-mm) wide, on tall, flexible stems, in spring–summer. Flowers open at dawn, close at sunset.
Best Climates
Tender. Self-seeding. Plant as annual, zones 3–7; ground hardy, zones 8–10.
Soil Type and Fertility
Damp to dry, well-drained, sandy soil. Fertility: Average–low. 7.0–7.5 pH.
Where and How to Plant
Prepare California poppy seeds before planting with two weeks of cold stratification (see below). Spring in full sun, 6–8 in. (15–20 cm) apart.
Cold Stratification: Mix dampened sand with dry organic compost or peat moss, prepare a flat with the mix, and mark with grid lines.
Set a pair of seeds at the center of each grid square and dust it over with 1/8-in. (3-mm) of the mix and press firmly.
Refrigerate at 33–40°F (1–5°C) for 2 weeks, then scoop and plant the ungerminated seed. Stratification breaks down the seed shell and allows water to penetrate to the plant embryo inside.
Proper Care
Easy. Keep moist until established; drought tolerant thereafter. Avoid fertilizing. Avoid transplanting. Deadhead spent flowers to promote new buds. Pinch to control growth. Propagate by seed.
About This Plant
Good choice for accents, beds, borders, edgings in arid, cottage, meadow, natural, rock, seaside, wildflower, wildlife gardens. Attracts birds. Pest and disease resistant.