Eschscholzia californica (California poppy)

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Eschscholzia spp.

California poppies

Papaveraceae Western North America and Mexico

Attracts Pollinators Attracts Butterflies Deer Resistant Drought Tolerant Container Friendly

Native to North America

SunFull Sun

WaterLow · drought-tolerant

Overview

Eschscholzia spp. is a genus of about 12 species of annual and short-lived perennial herbs in the poppy family, Papaveraceae, native to open, sunny ground in western North America and Mexico. The most familiar member, the California poppy E. californica, is the type for the genus and is grown worldwide as a garden annual. Plants form low mounds 6-24 in (15-60 cm) tall of finely dissected blue-green to grey-green foliage on slender, branching stems. The cup-shaped, four-petalled flowers are 1-3 in (2.5-7.5 cm) across in shades of orange, yellow, cream, red, and pink, opening flat in sun and closing in dull weather and at night. Each bloom rises on a long stalk from a pointed bud cap that is pushed off as the flower opens, and is followed by a slender ribbed seed capsule that splits explosively to scatter seed. Plants flower from spring into summer, often reblooming where summers stay cool. They need full sun and poor, sharp-draining soil, self-sow freely, and transplant poorly because of a deep taproot. In hot, humid, or rich conditions the plants grow soft and short-lived.

Native Range

The genus is native to western North America, from the Columbia River south through California into northwestern Mexico, growing on grassland, roadsides, sandy slopes, and desert margins. The California poppy E. californica is the state flower of California.

Suggested Uses

California poppies and their relatives are grown in wildflower meadows, gravel gardens, dry banks, and the front of sunny borders. They suit naturalistic plantings and self-sow to form drifts. The low mounding habit also suits containers and rock gardens.

How to Identify

Identify Eschscholzia spp. by finely dissected, fern-like blue-green foliage and solitary cup-shaped flowers of four silky petals held on long stalks. A pointed cap covers each bud and is pushed off intact as the flower opens, a feature that separates it from other common garden poppies. The fruit is a long, narrow, ribbed capsule that springs open to fling seed.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height6" - 2'

Width/Spread6" - 1'6"

Colors

Flower Colors

red

Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~8 weeks

Spring Summer

Flowering runs from early spring into summer, generally April to July, and continues longer where summers stay cool. In mild-winter regions autumn-sown plants bloom from late winter. Each flower lasts a few days, opening flat in sunshine and closing at night and in overcast weather, with self-sown plants extending the display over many weeks.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

orange, yellow, cream, red, pink

Foliage Description

blue-green to grey-green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun

Requires 6-12 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range6.0 - 7.5(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

sand loam rocky

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Low

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Eschscholzia spp. grows in full sun and poor, dry, sharp-draining sandy or gravelly soil at pH around 6.0-7.5. Plants are highly drought-tolerant and decline in rich, moist, or heavy ground, which produces soft growth and few flowers. Sow seed directly where plants are to grow, as the deep taproot makes transplanting difficult. Water lightly until seedlings establish, then only in prolonged drought. Removing spent flowers prolongs bloom, though plants self-sow readily and naturalise. Few pests trouble the genus, but crown and root rot follow wet, poorly drained soil.

Pruning

Deadhead spent flowers to extend bloom and limit self-seeding, or leave some capsules to ripen where naturalising is wanted. Shearing leggy plants back by half in midsummer can prompt a fresh flush of foliage and flower in cooler regions. No other pruning is needed on these soft-stemmed plants.