Seeds tend to move downhill with waterflow or wind, and get caught in channels and nooks here and there. Reseeding: California Poppy seedpods often burst open forcefully and scatter seeds to a surprising distance. In areas where plants might survive, they are often cut back severely, to stubs of about 1 inch, after going dormant. Plants may go dormant in response to summer heat. In hot-summer areas, California Poppy plants will die or die back during prolonged periods at temperatures above about 90☏. When cut back or deadheaded after blooming, California Poppy can bloom almost year-round in mild-winter, mild-summer areas. Deadheading also provides a cleaner look that accentuates the attractive foliage, and prevents seeds from developing if you don’t want California Poppy to spread throughout your landscape (see below). For a short-lived bouquet, you can try harvesting mature buds before they first open.ĭuring cool-to-warm weather after plants have completed bloom cycles, provide supplemental water and deadhead to encourage reblooming. They lose their petals quickly after flowers are cut. Walking on soil or working near California Poppy plants may compact soil and encourage diseases, especially when soil is wet after irrigation or rain.Ĭalifornia Poppy blooms are known for closing at night, on cloudy days, and before or during rain.Ĭalifornia Poppies don’t make good cut flowers. Established perennial plants may tolerate cold snaps to 15☏ or below. Plants perform well in most soils provided that drainage is sufficient.Ĭalifornia Poppy tolerates frost to about 20☏ or below. Seedlings and younger plants may need more-frequent watering.Ĭare, maintenance, and tips: Minimize fertilization for California Poppy. In sandy soils, California Poppy may need supplemental water about every 2 to 4 weeks during cool weather, and about every 1 to 2 weeks during warm-to-hot weather. In warm-winter areas, California Poppy may need no supplemental water from fall through spring when rainfall is sufficient.ĭuring dry periods within the first several months to a year after planting, California Poppy performs best with supplemental water about once every 4 to 8 weeks in clay soils during cool weather, and about every 2 weeks in clay soils during warm-to-hot weather.

It doesn’t establish as well in coarse and sandy soils, and more frequent watering may be needed. California Poppy can become extremely drought-tolerant once established in clay and loamy soils, after several months to a year when grown as a perennial, but is less so than some gardeners might expect when grown as an annual. Frequent sprinkler or overhead watering may encourage disease.īroadcast or sow seeds into moist or pre-irrigated soil. California Poppies can also be hand-watered. Consider installing drip irrigation before planting, which can save hassle and damage to plants later on. Watering: The best method for watering California Poppy is generally drip irrigation, especially in heavy soils, which allows for infiltration of water over time. See Planting and Growing California Poppy ( Eschscholzia california) for more info about planting, environmental needs, and benefits it provides. California Poppy ( Eschscholzia california) is among the most care-free and lovely California-native flowering plants, and among the easiest to cultivate in urban landscapes.

Dm132 red frost