Flower, California Poppy
Product Description:(Eschscholzia californica) Also known as Golden Poppy, California Sunlight, and Cup of Gold, this bright orange wildflower can be found blanketing the rolling hillsides of California every spring and summer. Its native range extends even further throughout the western United States and Mexico, reaching as far north as Washington.
This species was first discovered and named by Adelbert von Chamisso, a botanist aboard the Russian exploring ship “Rurik” in 1816. He named it after his friend and colleague J. F. Eschscholtz, who was the ship’s entomologist and surgeon (as you can see, Chamisso accidentally left out the “t” in Eschscholtz’s name). In 1903, the California Poppy was designated as the official state flower of California, a decision that is largely credited to botanist Sara Plummer Lemmon, who led a movement in the late 1890s advocating in favor of it. By this time, California poppies had already been introduced and popularized in Europe as a garden flower.
Each plant produces many cup-shaped blossoms that spread to about 2 inches in diameter at full bloom. The height of the plants range rather widely from 5cm to 60cm, often forming a small bush of silvery blue-green foliage similar in shape to that of carrots or dill. These blossoms typically open during the day and close at night, although sometimes they will remain closed under heavy cloud cover. The California Poppy is a self-seeding annual in most northern climates but sometimes a perennial in areas where frost is not able to damage its heavy taproot. California poppies also have uses beyond their ornamental value. In addition to their ability to attract pollinating insects, these poppies are frequently used in their native range for erosion control, restoration projects, and even as barriers to wildfires. Open-pollinated. 1 tsp of seeds per packet.
Growing Information: California poppies are incredibly easy to grow throughout the country. They require very little water, thrive in poor soil conditions, and are generally free of pests and diseases. They do not like having their roots disturbed so we recommend sowing your seeds directly into your garden or an outdoor flower pot. Your seeds should be planted only about 1/16 of an inch below the soil surface in an area that receives full sun. For the best results, sow your seeds in rows about 8 inches apart. In mild climates, like those found in this variety’s native range, a late fall planting is preferred. In cooler climates, sow your seeds in the spring. A mild frost should not harm the seeds, as they typically will not sprout until the soil warms. When your poppies have reached a few inches in height, thin them to about 8 inches apart in all directions.
As the plants begin to grow larger, very little maintenance is required. Avoid overwatering or fertilizing the poppies, as this will cause excessive growth of foliage and suppressed flower production. In late spring or early summer, the first blossoms will begin to appear. In most climates, flowering will continue throughout the summer and slowly dwindle as fall approaches. To encourage blooming later in the season, you can remove older blossoms, but be sure to leave some if you plan on saving seeds for next year. We do not recommend using California Poppies as cut flowers, as the petals will almost immediately fall off when picked. 65 days to maturity.
Seed Saving: Timing is everything when saving California poppy seeds. After a flower has been pollinated and its petals fall to the ground, a slender green seed pod develops in its place, ultimately reaching 3-9cm in length and up to half a centimeter in diameter. Within each pod lies dozens of round brown seeds barely larger than a grain of course sand. Upon reaching maturity, the seed pods burst open, triggered by a strong breeze or a passing animal, to scatter their seeds in all directions. While this is a very useful method of seed dispersal in the wild, it creates yet another layer of difficulty for a determined seed saver. The slightest touch of a mature pod can cause it to explode, so extreme caution should be taken when handling your poppy plants to avoid losing your seeds. It is important to collect the pods before they burst open on their own, but not so early that the seeds within them are underdeveloped.
The best method to accomplish this is to search your poppies for mature pods frequently. We recommend doing this at least once a day. A mature seed pod will be light brown or tan in color while immature pods will be green. To collect the seeds without causing them to scatter, simply pinch the base of the pod (the end that is connected to the stem of the former flower) between your thumb and forefinger and carefully snap it off. When a seed pod bursts open, it most often starts by splitting at the base, so by pinching this location you can effectively prevent the pod from unraveling in your hands. Without letting go, lower it into a bag or a deep collection container, then release. The highly pressurized seed pod will burst open inside of your container and, if successful, trap all of the seeds within it.
Germination Rate: 74%
Product Description:(Eschscholzia californica) Also known as Golden Poppy, California Sunlight, and Cup of Gold, this bright orange wildflower can be found blanketing the rolling hillsides of California every spring and summer. Its native range extends even further throughout the western United States and Mexico, reaching as far north as Washington.
This species was first discovered and named by Adelbert von Chamisso, a botanist aboard the Russian exploring ship “Rurik” in 1816. He named it after his friend and colleague J. F. Eschscholtz, who was the ship’s entomologist and surgeon (as you can see, Chamisso accidentally left out the “t” in Eschscholtz’s name). In 1903, the California Poppy was designated as the official state flower of California, a decision that is largely credited to botanist Sara Plummer Lemmon, who led a movement in the late 1890s advocating in favor of it. By this time, California poppies had already been introduced and popularized in Europe as a garden flower.
Each plant produces many cup-shaped blossoms that spread to about 2 inches in diameter at full bloom. The height of the plants range rather widely from 5cm to 60cm, often forming a small bush of silvery blue-green foliage similar in shape to that of carrots or dill. These blossoms typically open during the day and close at night, although sometimes they will remain closed under heavy cloud cover. The California Poppy is a self-seeding annual in most northern climates but sometimes a perennial in areas where frost is not able to damage its heavy taproot. California poppies also have uses beyond their ornamental value. In addition to their ability to attract pollinating insects, these poppies are frequently used in their native range for erosion control, restoration projects, and even as barriers to wildfires. Open-pollinated. 1 tsp of seeds per packet.
Growing Information: California poppies are incredibly easy to grow throughout the country. They require very little water, thrive in poor soil conditions, and are generally free of pests and diseases. They do not like having their roots disturbed so we recommend sowing your seeds directly into your garden or an outdoor flower pot. Your seeds should be planted only about 1/16 of an inch below the soil surface in an area that receives full sun. For the best results, sow your seeds in rows about 8 inches apart. In mild climates, like those found in this variety’s native range, a late fall planting is preferred. In cooler climates, sow your seeds in the spring. A mild frost should not harm the seeds, as they typically will not sprout until the soil warms. When your poppies have reached a few inches in height, thin them to about 8 inches apart in all directions.
As the plants begin to grow larger, very little maintenance is required. Avoid overwatering or fertilizing the poppies, as this will cause excessive growth of foliage and suppressed flower production. In late spring or early summer, the first blossoms will begin to appear. In most climates, flowering will continue throughout the summer and slowly dwindle as fall approaches. To encourage blooming later in the season, you can remove older blossoms, but be sure to leave some if you plan on saving seeds for next year. We do not recommend using California Poppies as cut flowers, as the petals will almost immediately fall off when picked. 65 days to maturity.
Seed Saving: Timing is everything when saving California poppy seeds. After a flower has been pollinated and its petals fall to the ground, a slender green seed pod develops in its place, ultimately reaching 3-9cm in length and up to half a centimeter in diameter. Within each pod lies dozens of round brown seeds barely larger than a grain of course sand. Upon reaching maturity, the seed pods burst open, triggered by a strong breeze or a passing animal, to scatter their seeds in all directions. While this is a very useful method of seed dispersal in the wild, it creates yet another layer of difficulty for a determined seed saver. The slightest touch of a mature pod can cause it to explode, so extreme caution should be taken when handling your poppy plants to avoid losing your seeds. It is important to collect the pods before they burst open on their own, but not so early that the seeds within them are underdeveloped.
The best method to accomplish this is to search your poppies for mature pods frequently. We recommend doing this at least once a day. A mature seed pod will be light brown or tan in color while immature pods will be green. To collect the seeds without causing them to scatter, simply pinch the base of the pod (the end that is connected to the stem of the former flower) between your thumb and forefinger and carefully snap it off. When a seed pod bursts open, it most often starts by splitting at the base, so by pinching this location you can effectively prevent the pod from unraveling in your hands. Without letting go, lower it into a bag or a deep collection container, then release. The highly pressurized seed pod will burst open inside of your container and, if successful, trap all of the seeds within it.
Germination Rate: 74%
Product Description:(Eschscholzia californica) Also known as Golden Poppy, California Sunlight, and Cup of Gold, this bright orange wildflower can be found blanketing the rolling hillsides of California every spring and summer. Its native range extends even further throughout the western United States and Mexico, reaching as far north as Washington.
This species was first discovered and named by Adelbert von Chamisso, a botanist aboard the Russian exploring ship “Rurik” in 1816. He named it after his friend and colleague J. F. Eschscholtz, who was the ship’s entomologist and surgeon (as you can see, Chamisso accidentally left out the “t” in Eschscholtz’s name). In 1903, the California Poppy was designated as the official state flower of California, a decision that is largely credited to botanist Sara Plummer Lemmon, who led a movement in the late 1890s advocating in favor of it. By this time, California poppies had already been introduced and popularized in Europe as a garden flower.
Each plant produces many cup-shaped blossoms that spread to about 2 inches in diameter at full bloom. The height of the plants range rather widely from 5cm to 60cm, often forming a small bush of silvery blue-green foliage similar in shape to that of carrots or dill. These blossoms typically open during the day and close at night, although sometimes they will remain closed under heavy cloud cover. The California Poppy is a self-seeding annual in most northern climates but sometimes a perennial in areas where frost is not able to damage its heavy taproot. California poppies also have uses beyond their ornamental value. In addition to their ability to attract pollinating insects, these poppies are frequently used in their native range for erosion control, restoration projects, and even as barriers to wildfires. Open-pollinated. 1 tsp of seeds per packet.
Growing Information: California poppies are incredibly easy to grow throughout the country. They require very little water, thrive in poor soil conditions, and are generally free of pests and diseases. They do not like having their roots disturbed so we recommend sowing your seeds directly into your garden or an outdoor flower pot. Your seeds should be planted only about 1/16 of an inch below the soil surface in an area that receives full sun. For the best results, sow your seeds in rows about 8 inches apart. In mild climates, like those found in this variety’s native range, a late fall planting is preferred. In cooler climates, sow your seeds in the spring. A mild frost should not harm the seeds, as they typically will not sprout until the soil warms. When your poppies have reached a few inches in height, thin them to about 8 inches apart in all directions.
As the plants begin to grow larger, very little maintenance is required. Avoid overwatering or fertilizing the poppies, as this will cause excessive growth of foliage and suppressed flower production. In late spring or early summer, the first blossoms will begin to appear. In most climates, flowering will continue throughout the summer and slowly dwindle as fall approaches. To encourage blooming later in the season, you can remove older blossoms, but be sure to leave some if you plan on saving seeds for next year. We do not recommend using California Poppies as cut flowers, as the petals will almost immediately fall off when picked. 65 days to maturity.
Seed Saving: Timing is everything when saving California poppy seeds. After a flower has been pollinated and its petals fall to the ground, a slender green seed pod develops in its place, ultimately reaching 3-9cm in length and up to half a centimeter in diameter. Within each pod lies dozens of round brown seeds barely larger than a grain of course sand. Upon reaching maturity, the seed pods burst open, triggered by a strong breeze or a passing animal, to scatter their seeds in all directions. While this is a very useful method of seed dispersal in the wild, it creates yet another layer of difficulty for a determined seed saver. The slightest touch of a mature pod can cause it to explode, so extreme caution should be taken when handling your poppy plants to avoid losing your seeds. It is important to collect the pods before they burst open on their own, but not so early that the seeds within them are underdeveloped.
The best method to accomplish this is to search your poppies for mature pods frequently. We recommend doing this at least once a day. A mature seed pod will be light brown or tan in color while immature pods will be green. To collect the seeds without causing them to scatter, simply pinch the base of the pod (the end that is connected to the stem of the former flower) between your thumb and forefinger and carefully snap it off. When a seed pod bursts open, it most often starts by splitting at the base, so by pinching this location you can effectively prevent the pod from unraveling in your hands. Without letting go, lower it into a bag or a deep collection container, then release. The highly pressurized seed pod will burst open inside of your container and, if successful, trap all of the seeds within it.
Germination Rate: 74%
