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California Poppy
Eschscholzia californica
Pretty annual that is the state flower of California. There a number of different varieties having flowers ranging from white (pictured at left 'Alba') to orange and red.
Seed Availability
Seeds are now available at our seed store.
Description
Plants are annuals but reseed easily. Flowers bloom throughout spring and summer and are naturally pollinated by beetles in California, but often by bees elsewhere.
Hardiness
The plants are not frost hardy. Will reseed in areas of frost.
Growing Environment
Will grow in a wide range of soils and can survive arid climates and short drought conditions. They do enjoy sandy soils and do best with well draining soil.
Propagation
By seeds.
Uses
Usually planted as an ornamental. Historically, the California poppy was used medicinally, as a sedative (it does not contain the alkaloids found in opium poppies), and to treat toothaches, headaches, and sores. Parts of the plant are edible.
Native Range
Native to North America.
Related Species
Papaveraceae | |||
California Poppy Eschscholzia californica |
Horned Poppy Glaucium flavum | ||
Papaver setigerum Dwarf Breadseed Poppy |
Breadseed Poppy Papaver somniferum | ||
Papaver somniferum paeonifolium Flemish Antique Poppy |
Papaver sp. Florist Pod Poppy | ||
Wind Poppy Stylomecon heterophylla |