List 5 – Eschscholzia californica
Eschscholzia californica (California poppy)
Family: Papaveraceae
USDA Hardiness Zone: Zone 6-10
Size:
- 1-1.5 ft wide
- 1-1.5 ft tall
Form:
- Loose, free-branching mounds; bushy
Soil & Water requirements:
- Does better in poor soil; ie. Rocky, brown field
- Tolerates drought
- Well-drained
Exposure:
- Does best in full sun; open
- Loves heat
Leaves:
- Finely divided, green leaves
- Foliage turns straw brown after bloom period
- Deciduous annual or short lived perennial
Flowers:
- Four silky petals forming cup-shaped flowers
- Orange to orange-yellow; showy
- Petals will close in ‘dull’ climates
- Individual flowers are short lived, but the overall bloom period is relatively long
- Remove dead flower heads to promote additional bloom, however leave some for self-seeding
- Common for sepals to be fused into ring-like calix; pinkish
Suitable uses:
- Commonly used in wildflower mixes; but will only look great for the first couple years; good for short term planting; perhaps a brownfield or site with poor soil that will be converted to something else in the near future
- Sunny hillside planting
- Exposed, coastal sites
- Container planting
- Rock gardens
- Informal plantings; cottage
Potential pairings:
- Colour contrasts: purple
Attracts:
- Bees
Propagation:
- Will grow from seed; plant in the fall
- Tends to be self-seeding
Other:
- Invasive weed in Victoria, but not in Vancouver because of the extra rainfall