An eye-catching accent to the waterwise garden, Eschscholzia californica ssp. mexicana (Mexican Gold Poppy) is a bushy, somewhat sprawling perennial, often grown as an annual, boasting finely divided, blue-green foliage capped with bountiful golden-orange satiny flowers. Blooming for weeks from early to late spring, the 2-3 in. wide (5-7 cm), cup-shaped flowers close at night and on cloudy, windy, or rainy days. Growing in loose, free-branching mounds, the blossoms bloom in response to moisture, temperature and sunlight. When there is ample winter rain in the desert, this graceful poppy grows in profusion, blanketing the southwestern deserts with a golden carpet. An excellent southwestern and Mexican native, Mexican poppy should be part of everyone's desert wildflower garden.

• Grows up to 6-18 in. tall (15-45 cm) and 12-18 in. wide (30-45 cm). Will self-sow to form large colonies and create a massive display of festive color.
• Perform best in full sun, in poor, well-drained soils. Good drainage is essential! Mexican Gold Poppy is heat and drought tolerant, and tolerates maritime exposure too.
• Mexican Gold Poppy is a lovely addition to beds and borders, containers, rock gardens, naturalized plantings and along paths or walkways.
• Cut back after flowering.
• Propagate from fall-sown seeds.
• Native to the United States and Mexico.