| California Poppy | |
| Eschscholzia californica |
Pretty annual that is the state flower of California. There a number of different varieties having flowers ranging from white (pictured at left 'Alba') to orange and red.
Description: Plants are annuals but reseed easily. Flowers bloom throughout spring and summer and are naturally pollinated by beetles in California, but often by bees elsewhere.
Hardiness: The plants are not frost hardy. Will reseed in areas of frost.
Growing Environment: Will grow in a wide range of soils and can survive arid climates and short drought conditions. They do enjoy sandy soils and do best with well draining soil.
Propagation: By seeds.
Uses: Usually planted as an ornamental. Historically, the California poppy was used medicinally, as a sedative (it does not contain the alkaloids found in opium poppies), and to treat toothaches, headaches, and sores. Parts of the plant are edible.
Native Range: Native to North America.