How to Grow Eschscholzia Plants in your Garden
Gardener's HQ Guide to Growing California Poppy, Tufted Poppy, and Frying Pans
Although members of the Eschscholzia genus are perennials they are usually grown as annuals in the garden.
These poppies can reach 30 to 60 cm in height and bear cup like flowers of yellow, orange or white from the middle of spring to the middle of summer.
They make good plants for growing in borders.
Common names for Eschscholzia include California poppy and Tufted Poppy.
California Poppy - Eschscholzia californica by MShade.
California poppy by Mikebaird
Eschscholzia Growing and Care Guide
Common Names: California Poppy, Tufted Poppy, Frying Pans, San Benito Poppy.
Family: Papaveraceae.
Life Cycle: Hardy perennial grown as a hardy annual by gardeners.
Height: 4 to 24 inches (10 to 60 cm).
Native: North and Central America.
Flowers: Mid-spring, summer and autumn.
Flower Details: Yellow, orange. Four Petals. Fragrant.
Foliage: Deeply cut. Hairless or Blueish-grey and waxy. Lanceolate.
Sow Inside: Use Peat pots. Germination time: two to three weeks. Temperature 60°F (16°C). Three weeks before expected last frost. Transplant outdoors following the last frost.
Requirements: Full sunlight. Good drainage. Average soils. Regular watering. Deadhead.
How to Grow California poppy (Eschscholzia)
It is best to grow Eschscholzia members outdoors. When growing California poppies the seeds should be sown at about 6 mm in the autumn or after the last frost of spring.
The seeds usually take about three weeks to germinate.
They should be sown into an area that is sunny and has good drainage. California poppies like to grow in a soil that is average, so nothing special is required.
Caring for Eschscholzia Plants in the Garden
Once growing, Eschscholzia plants require watering in prolonged dry spells.
Extended blooming of the poppies can be had by removing the flowering heads once they have finished flowering.
I hope that you enjoyed this guide on how to grow Eschscholzia plants. You may also enjoy the following Gardener's HQ Papaveraceae growing guides: How to grow Poppies and Glaucium plants.
If you enjoy the information on this site, then you'll love my book: The Gardener's HQ Plant Growing Guide. Available for Kindle (MOBI), iPad (ePub) and as a PDF.
Genus Index E
