PlantSowGrow
How to grow Californian Poppy
Eschscholzia californica
Silky orange flowers that open in sunshine above blue-grey leaves. Thrives in poor, dry soil — perfect for hot spots.
At a glance: Sow late March to mid June.
When to sow, plant and harvest
Timed for a typical UK garden (last frost mid-April). The app uses your own town's frost dates.
Growing Californian Poppy: what it needs
- Light
- Full sun · 6+ hours a day
- Watering
- Rarely needs watering once established
- Soil
- Poor, free-draining soil
- Spacing
- 15 cm
- Height
- 30 cm
- In pots
- Grows well in containers
- Feeding
- Liquid feed every two weeks once flowering starts
- Hardiness
- USDA zones 2–11
- Difficulty
- Easy
Step by step
- Late March – mid June · 3 weeks before the last spring frost
Sow Seeds Outdoors
Sow thinly where they are to flower, in a sunny spot, into raked, weed-free soil. Sow where it will flower; it hates transplanting.
- 10–20 days after “Sow Seeds Outdoors” · Early April – mid April
Check Germination
Seedlings should appear in 10–20 days. Keep the soil moist. If sown outdoors, thin them to 15 cm apart once they have two true leaves.
- 50–80 days after “Check Germination” · Late May – late June
First Flowers — Deadhead Regularly
Snip off faded flowers every few days to keep new ones coming for months. Take a photo for your journal!
- Mid October – early November · around the first autumn frost
Clear or Collect Seed
When frost blackens the plants, pull them up for the compost heap. Leave a few seedheads first if you want to save seed.
