Native Plants A-Z
The California Poppy is a tough, fast-growing, drought-tolerant, self-seeding, and easy to grow in sunny gardens. Selected as the State flower by the CA Floral Society in 1890, the legislation did not make the flower official until 1903 – its bloom fitting for the Golden State. The State flower is abundant in open coastal sage scrub, coastal strand, and prairie fields and prefers growing in well-drained, sandy, and often poor soils. The plant & flower are deer resistant and grow well with Phacelia & Clarkia species, CA Buckwheat, White Sage, and Chinese Houses. Leaves and roots are rumored to have a sedative effect.
California Poppy
Eschcholzia californica
KEY DETAILS
Plant Type
Annual, perennial
Light
Loamy or clay soils, full sun, part shade
Soil
Size
Bloom Time
Spring, summer, fall, winter
Sun Exposures per day
Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sun
Part shade: 3-4 hours of direct sun
Part Sun: 5–6 hours of direct sun
Full Sun: Receives 6+ hours of direct sun