Beginner
skill rating
Online Garden Tools
Useful videos
Eschscholzia californica (California poppy)
1 hour care
per year
per year
0.3m
Max height
Max height
0.2m
Max spread
Max spread
1-2 years
To maturity
To maturity
Plant details
Botanical name
Eschscholzia californica
Other names
California poppy, California sunlight, Cup of gold, Golden cup
Genus
Eschscholzia Eschscholzia
Species
E. californica - E. california is an annual with yellow, orange or red poppy-like flowers. Flowers are short-lived but many are produced from early summer through to autumn. It will self-seed happily which may be welcome or unwanted!
Eschscholzia californica is: Deciduous
Habit
Bushy
Flower
Red, Orange, Yellow in Summer; Yellow, Red, Orange in Autumn
Foliage
Blue-green in Summer; Bright-green in Autumn
How to care
Watch out for
Pests
Generally pest-free.
Diseases
Generally disease-free.
General care
Pruning
Cut back after flowering or remove completely.
Propagation methods
Seed
Sign up for your FREE ACCOUNT today or login to receive detailed monthly care instructions
Where to grow
Eschscholzia californica (California poppy) will reach a height of 0.3m and a spread of 0.2m after 1-2 years.
Suggested uses
Beds and borders, Coastal, Containers, Cottage/Informal, Drought Tolerant, Flower Arranging, Gravel, Low Maintenance, Meadow, Prairie planting, Rock
Cultivation
Sow seeds in-situ periodically from mid to late spring for successional displays. Choose a site with poor well-drained soil in a sunny position as the flowers only open in sunshine. Eschscholzia self-seed freely which may be welcome or unwanted.
Soil type
Loamy, Sandy
Soil drainage
Well-drained
Soil pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Light
Full Sun
Aspect
South, West
Exposure
Exposed, Sheltered
UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.
Hardy (H4)
Companion plants
Botanical name
Eschscholzia californica
Other names
California poppy, California sunlight, Cup of gold, Golden cup
Genus
Eschscholzia Eschscholzia
Species
E. californica - E. california is an annual with yellow, orange or red poppy-like flowers. Flowers are short-lived but many are produced from early summer through to autumn. It will self-seed happily which may be welcome or unwanted!
Native to
California
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Bushy
Create your free Shoot garden
Create your free SHOOT garden and make a record of the plants in your garden.
Add your own photos, notes, get monthly email reminders on how to care for your plants, and connect with other gardeners. Get started now.
Colour
Flower
Red, Orange, Yellow in Summer; Yellow, Red, Orange in Autumn
Foliage
Blue-green in Summer; Bright-green in Autumn
How to care
Watch out for
Pests
Generally pest-free.
Diseases
Generally disease-free.
General care
Pruning
Cut back after flowering or remove completely.
Propagation methods
Seed
Monthly care advice
Get access to monthly care advice
Create a free SHOOT account and get instant access to expert care advice for this and other plants in your garden.
You'll also receive handy monthly email reminders of what needs doing. Create your free account.
Where to grow
Eschscholzia californica (California poppy) will reach a height of 0.3m and a spread of 0.2m after 1-2 years.
Suggested uses
Beds and borders, Coastal, Containers, Cottage/Informal, Drought Tolerant, Flower Arranging, Gravel, Low Maintenance, Meadow, Prairie planting, Rock
Cultivation
Sow seeds in-situ periodically from mid to late spring for successional displays. Choose a site with poor well-drained soil in a sunny position as the flowers only open in sunshine. Eschscholzia self-seed freely which may be welcome or unwanted.
Soil type
Loamy, Sandy
Soil drainage
Well-drained
Soil pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Light
Full Sun
Aspect
South, West
Exposure
Exposed, Sheltered
UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.
Hardy (H4)
USDA zones
Zone 10, Zone 8, Zone 7, Zone 6, Zone 5
In order to add a note on this plant, please add this plant to your plant lists.
| This plant likes... | Garden match | |
| Soil types: | Loamy, Sandy | Tell us... |
| Soil drainage: | Well-drained | Tell us... |
| Soil pH: | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral | Tell us... |
| Light: | Full Sun | Tell us... |
| Aspect: | South, West | Tell us... |
| Exposure: | Exposed, Sheltered | Tell us... |
| Hardiness: | Hardy (H4) | Tell us... |
COMPANION PLANTS
GARDENS WITH THIS PLANT
ARTICLES WITH THIS PLANT
By garden designer Manoj Malde. British-Indian designer Manoj Malde is making his RHS Chelsea Flower Show debut this year bringing vibrant clashing colours in a vivid palette to his Inland Homes:… read more
Inspired by travel, this contemporary gravel garden brings together flavours of the Southern Cape, the maquis shrubland of the Mediterranean, the chaparral of California and Mexico and the matorral… read more
Report content or feedback to Shoot
To add ? to your lists,
login to your account or subscribe.
Find out more about plant lists here
or Login
To add notes for this plant login to your account or register for a new account.
Sign up for freeor Login
To add images for this plant login to your account or register for a new account.
Sign up for freeor Login
To check if this plant is suitable for your garden first login to your account or subscribe.
or Login
DISCUSS THIS PLANT
Eschscholzia californica
There are 7 active discussions about Eschscholzia californica (California poppy)
View all discussions