California poppies

An upright, compact annual or tender perennial native to California and the southwestern United States. Extremely drought tolerant, ideal for arid environments. The brilliant orange, cup-shaped flowers, are 2-4 inches in diameter, borne individually on long stalks. Prefers full sun in light to sandy soils. Remarkably uniform and neat in appearnce. A popular variety to press. Not hardy below 20F.

Planting
Sow the seed directly in the garden as soon as the soil can be worked in the spring. California poppy likes full sun and poor soil conditions.

Trim off spent blooms once California poppies begin to fade - usually once temperatures exceed 80 degrees. (If this occurs in late spring, just trim off any spent flowers and leave the carrot-like foliage. The plants may well rebloom.)

Water in moderation, if at all. These wildflowers are drought-tolerant, so don't worry much about watering unless you're in an extremely arid region.

Pull plants up after the first frost.

Latin Name: Eschscholzia californica (Papaveraceae)
Height: 12-18 inches
Blooming period: April-August
Suggested use: Borders, rock gardens, meadows, mixes.
Miscellaneous: An excellent color accent to any wildflower planting. The state flower of California. Blooms close each night at sunset or on dull days. The finely divided foliage is bluish-green in color making identification easy prior to flowering.