Alphabetical Plant Listing

Eschscholzia californica (California Poppy)

California Poppy, Golden Poppy, California Sunlight, Cup of Gold, Golden Cup


Desperate for color? Why don't you try planting California Poppies (Eschscholzia Californica)? Quick to bloom and ridiculously easy to grow, you will be charmed by their spectacular, billowing mounds of finely divided, blue-green lacy foliage capped with bountiful golden satiny flowers for weeks from spring to mid-fall or fall through winter in mild climate areas.

  • Generally pest and disease-free, California Poppies are low-maintenance plants grown as annuals in cool weather areas or as short-lived perennials in hardiness zones 8 - 10.
  • Growing in loose, free-branching mounds up to 6-12 in. tall (15-30 cm) and 6-8 in. wide (15-20 cm), they feature single, semi-double or double silky flowers, up to 3 inches across (7 cm), in vibrant and bold colors including white, pink, red, orange, cream and yellow.
  • The flowers close at night, when it is overcast, and when it rains.
  • California Poppies perform best in full sun, in sandy, poor to average, well-drained soils. Good drainage is essential! They are heat and drought-tolerant and tolerate maritime exposure too.
  • Deer and rabbit resistant, California Poppies are a joy to bees and butterflies. California Poppies are lovely additions to beds and borders, containers, rock gardens, naturalized plantings, and along paths or walkways.
  • They may be grown from seeds or live plants. Sow seeds outdoors after all danger of frost has passed or indoors 2-3 weeks before the last spring frost date. In hardiness zones 6-10, seeds may be sown in fall.
  • Deadhead spent flowers to encourage new blooms. If the flower heads remain, the poppies will self-seed without becoming invasive.
  • Native to the United States and Mexico. This plant may become weedy or invasive in some regions or habitats and may displace desirable vegetation if not properly managed.
  • Find where this species is invasive in the United States.

Buy Eschscholzia californica (California Poppy)

Requirements

Hardiness 8 – 10
Heat Zones 1 – 9
Climate Zones 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, H1
Plant Type Annuals, Perennials
Exposure Full Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Early,Mid,Late)
Summer (Early,Mid,Late)
Fall
Height 6" – 1' (15cm – 30cm)
Spread 6" – 8" (15cm – 20cm)
Spacing 6" – 9" (15cm – 22cm)
Water Needs Low, Average
Maintenance Low
Soil Type Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Well-Drained
Characteristics Cut Flowers, Showy
Native Plants United States, California, Midwest, Illinois, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, Wisconsin, Northeast, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania, Pacific Northwest, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, Rocky Mountains, Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, Southeast, Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Southwest, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas
Tolerance Deer, Drought, Rabbit, Dry Soil, Salt
Attracts Bees, Butterflies
Garden Uses Beds and Borders, Patio and Containers
Garden Styles Coastal Garden, Gravel and Rock Garden, Informal and Cottage, Prairie and Meadow

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Botanik Foto, Shutterstock

While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.


Requirements

Hardiness 8 – 10
Heat Zones 1 – 9
Climate Zones 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, H1
Plant Type Annuals, Perennials
Exposure Full Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Early,Mid,Late)
Summer (Early,Mid,Late)
Fall
Height 6" – 1' (15cm – 30cm)
Spread 6" – 8" (15cm – 20cm)
Spacing 6" – 9" (15cm – 22cm)
Water Needs Low, Average
Maintenance Low
Soil Type Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Well-Drained
Characteristics Cut Flowers, Showy
Native Plants United States, California, Midwest, Illinois, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, Wisconsin, Northeast, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania, Pacific Northwest, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, Rocky Mountains, Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, Southeast, Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Southwest, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas
Tolerance Deer, Drought, Rabbit, Dry Soil, Salt
Attracts Bees, Butterflies
Garden Uses Beds and Borders, Patio and Containers
Garden Styles Coastal Garden, Gravel and Rock Garden, Informal and Cottage, Prairie and Meadow

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