Great Design Plant: California Poppy
by Bill Marken · 9 photos · 6 comments
Botanical name: Eschscholzia californica
Common name: California poppy
USDA zones: All zones when planted in spring as a spring and summer annual. In mild climates seeds can be sown in fall.
Water requirement: Light to moderate
Light requirement: Full sun — most definitely!
Mature size: 12 inches tall and 18 inches wide
Caution: It naturalizes (reseeds and spreads) readily under favorable conditions and can become pesky if you don't want it there.
by Las Pilitas Nursery
Common name: California poppy
USDA zones: All zones when planted in spring as a spring and summer annual. In mild climates seeds can be sown in fall.
Water requirement: Light to moderate
Light requirement: Full sun — most definitely!
Mature size: 12 inches tall and 18 inches wide
Caution: It naturalizes (reseeds and spreads) readily under favorable conditions and can become pesky if you don't want it there.
Distinguishing characteristics. Bright orange blossoms, produced in abundance, are the most common form of California poppy. The foliage is lacy, blue-green, pretty when young but weedy and dry as the plants go to seed.
by Missouri Botanical Garden
'Apricot Chiffon', shown here, is one of many color variations (including white, red and streaked). Different flower forms (frilly, fluted and more) are also available. Many variations were developed in England, such as 'Mahogany Red'. You can buy seeds of mixed colors or single colors. For the best selection, try specialty wildflower seed suppliers such as Larner of Bolinas, California.
by The New York Botanical Garden
How to grow it. In cold climates sow seeds or set out seedlings in spring. In California and similar mild climates, sow seeds in fall and hope that winter rains see them through. First cultivate the planting bed, or at least scuff the planting area with a rough rake. Broadcast seeds and cover them with mulch or loose soil. Sprinkle the soil with water and keep it moist until the rains take over. After bloom, pull or hoe out dry plants — unless you want the poppies to naturalize and come back next year. Their seeds may come back if conditions suit them; pull or hoe out emerging seedlings if you don't want them.
by Alder Group, Pool and Landscape Co.
How to use it. Combine just a few California poppies with natural companions, such as agave (shown), to create wish-you-were-here postcard scenes — on a sunny slope, in a parking strip or in a country style mixed border. Other compatible companions include wildflowers such as lupines (as in the blue and gold of California's spring hills), globe gilia and baby blue eyes.
As a rule, California poppy is not best for formal, highly groomed garden situations that you see up close. Its postbloom appearance is on the weedy side.
by Debra Lee Baldwin
As a rule, California poppy is not best for formal, highly groomed garden situations that you see up close. Its postbloom appearance is on the weedy side.
A ring of California poppies brightens this dry-style planting bed between a flagstone terrace and a stone path. In a somewhat domesticated situation such as this, you'd probably want to tidy up the postbloom appearance; remove the drying-up plants after bloom.
by Golden Associates, Landscape Architects
A slice of wild California is created here, with California poppies scattered among natural stones, cracks and all. In the background is the vigorous and attention-getting Matilija poppy (fried-egg plant), another California icon that can sometimes get out of hand.
by Margie Grace - Grace Design Associates
California poppies are so vivid that it takes just a few plants to brighten up a mixed border. Here one poppy plant in the foreground visually links nicely with a larger patch of poppies in the background.
by Blasen Landscape Architecture
An unconventionally colored pink California poppy looks very much at home with other dry-loving plants such as lavender in bloom.
by KL Designs Residential Landscape Planning
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You cannot transplant them--they always die. They don't like having their roots disturbed. The flowers can't be picked for bouquets; they wilt immediately.
The seed pods are spring-loaded, and if you wait until they are dry, a touch will cause them to explode tiny seeds for several feet around. If collecting seed pods, be sure to grasp them in your palm and have a bag to put them into. The seeds are tiny and will be lost through the tiniest holes in the bag. Plant them once, and they'll come back year after year, if they get enough sun and they're not disturbed too much. The plants can help crowd out other weeds.