The genus honors world traveler, Johann Friedrich Eschscholz of Estonia. This annual poppy is native to the western U.S. and is the state flower of California. It can be found growing in washes, flats and slopes, grassland and among sagebrush, and juniper and pinyon woodlands. It adds vibrant color to hot dry sites with poor soil. It is considered a drought-tolerant, cool-season annual and a short-lived perennial in zones 8 through 10. The flowers stand on tall stems waving above a mound of loose feathery blue-green foliage in the spring through July. Flowers are 3" in diameter, cup-shaped, and have 4 silky petals. Bright orange is the most common color though the range is creamy yellow to bright orange. A number of cultivars are available in other colors. as well as in semi-double and double forms. Flowers close up in rainy or cloudy weather and at night. Deadhead flowers regularly to promote additional bloom, but leave some flower heads for self-seeding if desired. The bloom petals give way to capsules that later split open to release thousands of tiny black poppy seeds. A good time to sow the seeds directly in the ground is in the fall or start the seeds indoors about 3 weeks prior to the last frost date. These annuals may be used in a wide variety of garden areas with plants of similar sun and watering needs. Locations may include garden beds, borders, rock gardens, or in various containers. They work well in large groupings like meadows or smaller naturalized areas. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant issues. To prevent the spread by self-seeding, deadheading is recommended. Full sun is ideal for this plant, it will not grow in shade.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Soil texture
Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage
Available space
12 inches-3 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in. | Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (1-3 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Clumping; Mounding
Texture
Fine
Leaf color
Blue; Gray/Silver
Leaf type
Fronds; Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate; Rosulate
Leaf shape
Ovate
Leaf margin
Entire; Lobed
Leaf size
1-3 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
The fern like basal leaves are silvery blue, 3/4 to 4 inches long and narrow, on long stalks. The foliage will turn a straw-brown after the plant flowers.
Flower color
Gold/Yellow; Orange
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Head
Flower shape
Cup; Star
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Electric orange flowers appear in a round cluster on long stems from late spring through summer. At nighttime as well as during rainy or cloudy days the flowers will close up.
Bloom time
Spring; Summer
Fruit color
Brown/Copper
Fruit type
Achene; Capsule
Fruit detail
The three sided capsules will split open to self-seed when dry.
Stem color
Gray/Silver; Green
Stem detail
Due to a build up of carbon dioxide, the stout leafless stem become inflated as you go up the stem. It divides at a point that is approximately half its height.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Origin
South western U.S.A. to Mexico
Distribution
CA, WA, NV, NM
Play value
Attractive Flowers; Colorful; Easy to Grow
Food & Medicine
Edible parts
Leaves; Stems
Fruit type
Achene; Capsule
Edibility
The leaves and stems can be eaten.
Uses (ethnobotany)
Wildflower
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Container; Lawn; Meadow; Naturalized Area; Patio; Rock Wall; Slope/Bank; Walkways