Californian Poppy: Eschscholzia Californica
Sunday, January 6th, 2008
CALIFORNIAN POPPY
Eschscholzias are without a doubt among the most rewarding of all annuals, as well as being some of the easiest to grow. Their beautiful greyish-green leaves, often with a tinge of blue, are finely divided and form dense and yet loose tufts in a border. The first flowers may be expected in June, followed by increasing numbers every day. Before they open, they are covered by a membrane closely resembling a nightcap, hence the Dutch common name “slaapmutsje.” On the day that the flower opens, it pushes the “cap” from the stem, so you can then pull it off and, as it were, awaken the flower. Children, of course, love doing this. Although eschscholzias grow naturally along the west coast of the United States, they tolerate a fair amount of frost. Some people even sow the seed in late summer and autumn, hoping that the seedlings will survive the winter, grow sturdier, and come into flower earlier. That is how the plant seeds naturally, especially in gardens with sandy soil. The seedlings will not, however, survive severe, wet winters. In that case, sow again in early spring -March-April. The seeds may be sown indoors earlier in the year, but because of the weak transition between root and stem, they do not like being transplanted. It is better to sow directly in the garden. Eschscholzias thrive in almost any kind of soil, but they will remain more compact in poor, sandy soil and the color of their leaves will also be more beautiful there. In richer soil, longer and more lax stems will grow up to 24 in tall.