California Orange Poppy

Eschscholzia californica (California Poppy) is a low-spreading to erect-growing, clump-forming annual/perennial that typically grows to 1.2 ft. California Poppy blooms in spring/summer with orange or yellow flowers. Eschscholzia californica attracts a variety bees, and the seeds are eaten by small mammals. The seed capsules of California Poppy are cylindrical. When the seed is ripe, capsules of Eschscholzia californica explosively cast their seed up to 6 ft from the parent plant. California Poppy grows in full sun in well-drained soils. Eschscholzia californica is found from New Mexico to California and Washington, as well as New Mexico and Utah. In the eastern U.S., California Poppy is used in annual and annual/perennial wildflower mixes. Eschscholzia californica has been used as a garden plant since David Douglas collected seeds from Oregon for England’s Royal Botanical Society. California Poppy is a member of the poppy (Papaverales) family. The genus name Eschscholzia honors Eastonian world traveler Johann Friedrich Eschscholz.