California Poppy Eschscholzia californica
- Phonetic Spelling
- es-SHOLT-zee-ah kal-ih-FOR-nik-ah
- Description
-
This annual poppy is native to the western U.S. and is the state flower of California. It adds vibrant color to hot dry sites with poor soil. It is considered a drought-tolerant, cool-season annual. The flowers stand on tall stems waving above a mound of loose feathery blue-green foliage in the spring through July. Flowers are 3" in diameter, cup-shaped, and have 4 silky petals. Bright orange is the most common color though the range is creamy yellow to bright orange. A number of cultivars are available in other colors.
Flowers close up in rainy or cloudy weather and at night. Deadhead flowers regularly to promote additional bloom, but leave some flower heads for self-seeding if desired. The bloom petals give way to capsules that later split open to release thousands of tiny black poppy seeds.
A good time to sow the seeds directly in the ground is in the fall or start the seeds indoors about 3 weeks prior to the last frost date.
These annuals may be used in a wide variety of garden areas with plants of similar sun and watering needs. Locations may include garden beds, borders, rock gardens, or in various containers. They work well in large groupings like meadows or smaller naturalized areas.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'XL Jelly Beans'
Vibrant pink, lemon yellow, red, blue-green foliage
- 'XL Jelly Beans'
- 'XL Jelly Beans'
- Tags:






















- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'XL Jelly Beans'
Vibrant pink, lemon yellow, red, blue-green foliage
- 'XL Jelly Beans'
- 'XL Jelly Beans'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Eschscholzia
- Species:
- californica
- Family:
- Papaveraceae
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Western U.S.A. to Mexico
-
-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Annual
- Wildflower
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Fine
-
-
Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Available Space To Plant:
- Less than 12 inches
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 6a, 6b, 7b, 7a, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10b, 10a
-
-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Orange
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Cup
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- Electric orange flowers appear from spring through summer.
-
-
Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Blue
- Gray/Silver
- Leaf Type:
- Fronds
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves are slivery blue 3/4 to 4 inches long and narrow, on long stalks.
-
-
Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
-
-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Lawn
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Rock Wall
- Walkways
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Mass Planting