California Poppy is the iconic state flower of California, a perennial often grown as an annual, and part of the poppy family (Papaveraceae). It’s known for its vibrant yellow-orange blooms that close at night and before/during rain, ease of cultivation in Mediterranean climates, tolerance of poor and difficult soils, and stunning mass blooming in native ranges. Two primary subspecies are generally recognized: 1) Eschscholzia californica californica, with the well-known yellow-orange blooms; and 2) Eschscholzia californica mexicana, or Mexican Gold Poppy, which blooms yellow, with a native range primarily in the Southwestern United States and Northwestern Mexico.
A wide selection of California Poppy varieties, colors, and mixes will thrive in temperate and mild-winter California areas. Varieties bred for special characteristics such as color, double-blooms, or ruffled blooms may be less tolerant of heat, drought, and poor soil than original native strains. GardenZeus recommends Orange California Poppy for classic orange blooms and Mikado for red-orange blooms. Colorful mixes include Confetti (orange, white, pink, red, and yellow single blooms); Mission Bells (rose, red, white, orange, and yellow double and semi-double ruffled blooms); and Spring Melody Blend (rose, red, white, orange, and yellow double and semi-double blooms). California Color Flower Mix includes California Poppy and many other native wildflowers.
Purchase seeds, not seedlings. California Poppy may be sold in nurseries as seedlings but dislikes roots disturbances and does not transplant well.
California Poppy prefers well-drained clay and loamy soils at temperatures of about 55° to 80°F. It often thrives in poor or infertile soils, and tolerates a wide range of soil pH from about 5.2 to 8.3, with an ideal pH of about 6.5 to 7.5. It may germinate poorly, underperform, and need more-frequent watering in coarse and sandy soils. See Soil and Microclimate Tips for California Poppy (Eschscholzia california) for additional information.
Young plants suffer and may be killed by prolonged periods at temperatures of 90°F or higher; established plants may go dormant or be killed during hot summers. See Soil and Microclimate Tips for California Poppy (Eschscholzia california) for additional information.
California Poppy is among the easiest and most-rewarding native plants for temperate and mild-winter California areas, and one of the loveliest flowers for attracting various native and non-native insects and pollinators. It requires little more than scattering seeds from fall through early spring in warm-winter California areas and occasional watering during warm-to-hot weather in most soils.
Broadcast or sow California Poppy seeds from early fall through late winter or early spring in mild-winter California areas. California Poppy may suffer during prolonged periods with temperatures above 85° to 90°F. Original native strains and other varieties may reseed or naturalize, often resprouting in non-irrigated areas with fall-and-winter rains.
California Poppy is drought-tolerant but less-so than some gardeners may expect when grown as an annual. It may need no supplemental water from fall through spring when rainfall is sufficient. During dry periods within the first several months to a year after planting, California Poppy performs best with supplemental water about once every 4 to 8 weeks in clay soils during cool weather, and about every 2 weeks in clay soils during warm-to-hot weather. In sandy soils, California Poppy may need supplemental water about every 2 to 4 weeks during cool weather, and about every 1 to 2 weeks during warm-to-hot weather. Seedlings and younger plants may need more-frequent watering. See California Poppy: Tips and Precautions for Care and Watering.
Broadcast or sow seeds directly outdoors into moist, pre-irrgated soil or before fall/winter rainy periods. See Planting and Growing California Poppy (Eschscholzia california) and California Poppy: Tips and Precautions for Care and Watering .
We are generally not concerned with pollination unless saving seeds or naturalizing California Poppy in your garden.
California Poppy makes an ideal companion for other California native wildflowers, such as Sky Lupine.
California Poppy has minimal fertility needs. See Planting and Growing California Poppy (Eschscholzia california) for additional information.
GardenZeus does not recommend growing California Poppies in containers.
Broadcast or sow California Poppy seeds from early fall through late winter or early spring in mild-winter California areas. California Poppy may suffer during prolonged periods with temperatures above 85° to 90°F. Original native strains and other varieties may reseed or naturalize, often resprouting in non-irrigated areas with fall-and-winter rains.
GardenZeus does not recommend harvesting California Poppies for cut flowers.