California poppy

Eschscholzia californica · Poppy family (Papaveraceae)

At a glance
Hardiness zones	6 to 10
Sun	full sun
Water	low
Life cycle	annual
Frost	Half-hardy: takes a light frost
Spacing	12 to 36 inches

About California poppy

California poppy is a low wildflower with silky orange to pale yellow petals, native from western Oregon to Baja California and the state flower of California. It thrives in poor, dry, sunny spots, and its flowers close at night and on cloudy days. Bumble bees, sweat bees and mining bees visit the flowers.

NC State lists zones 6-10; it lives a few years as a short-lived perennial in mild-winter areas (about zones 8-10) and acts as a reseeding annual where winters are cold.

When to plant

Timing is counted from your average last spring frost (and first fall frost). Sow & Tell works out the actual dates for your ZIP code.

Start seeds indoors: 3 weeks before the last frost

Sow seed where it will grow in fall or early spring, barely covered (about 1/16 to 1/8 inch deep). It does not like being transplanted unless the plants are very young; NC State also says you can start seed indoors 3 weeks before the last frost.

Soil

Sandy to loamy, well-drained soil, even poor soil; it does poorly in soil rich in organic matter or where water pools.

No need to enrich the soil: California poppy grows in poor, sandy to loamy, well-drained soil and does poorly where the soil is high in organic matter.

Feeding

Rich, soggy soil works against it; it will not grow in shade or where water pools.

Harvest

Grown for its flowers, which bloom from spring into summer. Deadhead to keep it blooming, but leave a few pods if you want it to reseed; ripe pods pop open and can fling seed up to 6 feet.

Varieties (17)

Variety	Type	Notes
Apricot Chiffon	Double	Creamy yellow double flowers edged in coral-orange.
Rose Chiffon	Double	Soft rose double flowers with yellow centers.
Ballerina	Double mix	Frilly, semi-double to double flowers in yellow, orange, rose and scarlet.
XL Jelly Beans	Mix	Mix of bright pink, lemon-yellow and red flowers over blue-green leaves; plants about 1-2 ft tall.
Mission Bells	Semi-double mix	Mix of pastel yellow, pink and orange flowers with lightly ruffled, semi-double to double petals.
Thai Silk	Semi-double mix	Compact plants about 8-10 in. tall with bronze-tinged leaves. Semi-double flowers about 1.5 in. across in yellow, orange, red, pink, rose, cream and white.
Alba	Single	White flowers.
Apricot Flambeau	Single	Lemon, cream and apricot flowers with coral edges over smoky gray-green leaves.
Carmine King	Single	Red-pink flowers with white centers.
Champagne and Roses	Single	Fluted flowers in two-toned pinks, from pale champagne to deep rose.
Golden West	Single	Soft golden-yellow flowers.
Orange King	Single	Glowing orange flowers; an improved form of the wild type.
Purple Gleam	Single	Satiny pinkish-purple flowers with cream centers.
Red Chief	Single	Scarlet to orange-red flowers.
White Linen	Single	White flowers.
Sugared Almonds	Single mix	Flowers range from scarlet-orange to cream with an apricot blush.
Sunset	Single mix	A seed strain with single flowers.

Pests to watch for

Aphids, Thrips

Diseases and problems

Powdery mildew, Gray mold, Aster yellows

In the kitchen

Safety: The USDA NRCS plant guide warns that California poppy may be toxic if eaten without proper preparation and may be toxic to livestock; the roots hold the most alkaloids. As an herbal remedy the European Medicines Agency says it is for adults only, is not recommended in pregnancy or while breastfeeding, and may make you too drowsy to drive; it lists no known drug interactions, but ask a doctor before combining it with sleep aids, sedatives or alcohol.

Pets: Not listed by the ASPCA

Sources

Photo: Photo: Rjcastillo / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0 (CC BY 4.0). Photo resized for the web.

Planting dates and advice are general guidance; check with your local Cooperative Extension office for your area.