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Annual Biennial

Eschscholzia caespitosa

tufted California poppy

An annual forming a low mound of finely divided grey-green leaves with fragrant, 4-petalled bright yellow flowers to 5cm across in summer

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Ultimate height

Up to 10cm

Time to ultimate height

1–2 years

Ultimate spread

0.1–0.5 metres

Chalk

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun

Aspect

East–facing or South–facing

Exposure

Exposed or Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Papaveraceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Bushy
Genus: Eschscholzia can be annuals or perennials, with finely divided leaves and solitary, long-stalked, poppy-like yellow, orange or red flowers, followed by conspicuous long seed-pods
Name status: Correct

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in poor, well-drained soil in full sun

Propagation

Propagate by seed sown in situ, in succession from early autumn to mid spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types

City and courtyard gardens
Coastal
Patio and container plants
Mediterranean climate plants
Cottage and informal garden
Gravel garden
Flower borders and beds

Pruning

Cut back after flowering

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free

Get involved

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