Eschscholzia californica, California poppy
Family: Papaveraceae
Description:
Delicate orange blossoms are the striking feature of this annual, or short-lived perennial. Petals are silky and iridescent with six weeks of strong blooming in the summer. Flowers will continue to bloom periodically into the fall. In high winds, flowers will close. Grown from seed, it will flower in the first year and can sometimes survive over a mild winter.
Growing conditions:
Grown best in poor soils, Eschscholzia californica cannot tolerate rich soils or shade. It can endure drought and prefers sunshine. It is an invasive weed in Victoria, but is not aggressive in Vancouver due to rainier winters.
Suitable uses:
Commonly Eschscholzia californica is used in wildflower mixtures. However, it cannot tolerate competitive grasses or organic soil. Suitable proportions of wildflowers and grasses is essential for success. It is best panted in the open in poor soil conditions. This soft poppy is beautiful when mass planted in a field or amongst a mixture of wildflowers.
CC Image courtesy of Velvet Elevator (Pandy Farmer) on Flickr
CC Image courtesy of TANAKA Juuyoh (田中十洋) on Flickr