Hardiness zones:
Sunset 12-24
USDA 9-11 (arid and semi arid regions are best - though try telling that
to the Eschscholzia freaks in England)
Landscape Use: Desert wildflower displays in gardens or along roadways or other open desert landscape areas, rock gardens.
Form & Character: Quite graceful, informal; will freely colonizing disturbed areas
Growth Habit: Winter annual across the Sonoran and Mojave Deserts. Eschscholzia californica is an annual in inland valleys of California or a short-lived perennial in fog prone areas along the California coast. Clumping to < 12".
Foliage/texture: Grayish, glaucous, highly dissected into narrow segments, fine texture.
Flowers & fruits: Orange petals, 3/4" to 2 1/4" long that fade to yellow, fruit capsule to 4" long, tapers vertically to a point.
Seasonal color: Flowers in late winter through spring
Temperature: Mexican poppy grows best when temperatures are between 35o and 85oF. Flower petal color responds to temperature; more orange during cooler weather of winter and more yellow during warmer weather of spring.
Light: Bright, full sun
Soil: Has a wide range of tolerances to different soil textures, but grows best in a light, fast draining soil.
Watering: Give light applications of supplemental water only if winter rains are inconsistent.
Pruning: None, rogue dead or declining plants.
Propagation: Seed, will naturalize disperse in Phoenix urban landscapes.
Disease and pests: Crown rot if soil is chronically wet and poorly drained.
Additional comments: California or Mexican poppy is an excellent native flowering
annual that should be apart of everyone's wildflower garden - definitely two
thumbs up! Phenotypic distinctions between E. mexicana and E.
californica are horticulturally insignificant, possibly distinguished only by differences in cotyledons.
Colorless juice is reported to be mildly narcotic, used by Native
Americans as treatment for toothache. Cultivar 'Sun Shades' has a dense array of flowers and grows more prostrate. Other Eschscholzia cultivars with atypical flower colors include E. californica'Champagne & Roses' (champagne pink) and E. californica 'Purple Cap' (reddish purple).
California or Mexican poppy have been used traditionally as a remedy for toothaches (the root cut and the juices applied directly), and as a tea for headaches, anxiety, and insomnia. Children seem to benefit from this for mild cases of colic, sleeplessness, and tension or anxiety.
