According to some sources, the California poppy is a smaller cousin of the poppy, and that's clearly visible. California poppy Mission Bells consists of a mixture of different shades: white, orange, yellow and pink. The California poppy's flowers rise on gray-green stems and are surrounded by gray-green leaves. The California poppy is an easy-to-grow and maintain plant that nevertheless makes a striking eye-catcher in the garden. California poppy looks best when planted in a cluster. California poppy is native to western North America and western Mexico. Here, it grows in sunny, dry places with well-drained soil, such as meadows. Here, the California poppy can overwinter, but in our colder climates (the Netherlands and Belgium), it is grown as an annual. The flower is also the symbol of the state of California, which is why the California poppy owes its nickname: California Poppy. California poppy is also known as Golden Poppy, California Sunlight, Cup Of Gold and Flame Flower. The plant owes its name to the fact that the flowers close at night and in bad weather, and because this plant can also help with sleep problems and against stress, pain complaints and anxiety. California poppy is a member of the poppy family (Papaveraceae), along with: Celandine, Yellow Horned Poppy, Plume Poppy, False Poppy, Rough Poppy, Downy Poppy, Pale Poppy, Giant Poppy, Great Poppy, Opium Poppy, Climbing Corydalis, Hollow Root, Foxglove, Climbing Fumitory, Middle Fumitory, Common Fumitory, Yellow-white Corydalis, and Yellow Corydalis.
California poppy also makes a beautiful cut flower. And as an added bonus, the flowers of the California poppy are edible. They have a lovely fresh flavor that is delicious as a garnish, in salads, and in soups. People who don't have a garden can also enjoy the beautiful flowers of the California poppy, as it is easy to grow in pots, containers, and balcony boxes, for example on balconies. California poppy needs a sunny, sheltered spot with well-drained soil. California poppy is a must-have for the garden, border, bee and butterfly garden, nature garden, and naturalized garden. California poppy self-seeds very readily. California poppy combines very well with the following plants: marigold, cornflower, wax flower, and nasturtium. California poppy is very popular with bees, butterflies, hoverflies, and other beneficial insects. Remove spent flowers regularly. California poppy blooms from June to October. Non hardy annual. Height: 20 - 45 cm.
Outdoor sowing: March - May
Germination: 10 - 21 days
Germination temp.: 15 - 20 °C
Sowing depth: ¼ cm
Plant distance: 20 - 30 cm
Plant position: sunny and well drained
Flowering period: June - October
Sow outdoors on a sunny plot from March on. Loosen the soil and then broadcast the seeds. The seeds can be mixed with some sand to make the broadcasting easier. Rake in the seeds gently. Keep moist and weedfree. Thin the seedlings to 20-30 cm apart, when they're about 5 cm tall. Don't transplant Your Californian Poppy, because of their delicate rootsystem.
They've a good drought tolerance, so don't water them to much. This variety can be used to cover large patches of soil or to cover empty patches in borders. Deadhead the flowers regurlarly to make sure that they flower on till the end of the summer and beyond. Leave them alone after the flower period and they'll re-seed themselfs. This plant thrives on neglect. Remove spent flowers. Californian Poppy flowers from June till October.
