How to Grow California Poppies
California Poppies do not like to have their roots disturbed, therefore it is best to sow them directly in the ground. Sow in early spring when the soil is still cool. Seeds will germinate in about 10-15 days.
Maturity:55-75 days from seed to flower
Spacing:4 to 8 inches apart in all directions
Eschscholzia californica is a species of flowering plant in the Papaveraceae family, native to the United States and Mexico. It is an ornamental plant flowering in summer, with showy cup-shaped flowers in brilliant shades of red, orange and yellow. It is also used as food or a garnish.
The California poppy is technically a perennial but is often grown as an annual, since it can grow from seed to flower in a matter of weeks. A single plant can flower profusely over a long period before eventually setting seed and producing new flowering plants in the same season. If poppies like their place in the garden they will self-seed and come back next year. I like to collect the seeds and store them in a dark place until I am ready to fill another spot in the garden.
I took the photo of these poppies several years ago when I visited Julian, California.
