The
California Poppy| The
California Poppy |
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| The poppy is true
California gold. It's bright, cheerful colors mark the beginning
of another beautiful summer. They begin blooming around April and will grow from 12 to 18 inches tall. They form many stems, each of which grows a flower. Highly tolerant of drought, they grow best in full sunlight and dislike dampness. At night, or on very cloudy days, their orange and golden blossoms close. Botanist Curtis Clark warns us that this is a species that has been very extensively hybridized and the hybrids should not be mixed with the native poppy. He makes a strong argument for the idea that the hybrids will genetically swamp the natives, producing poppys that are no longer suited for their environment. It's important, then, to only plant local species if you live in an area where they grow wild. You can mix poppys with other flowers or use them for borders in your rock gardens. Plant the seeds about a sixteenth of an inch deep, and they should germinate in two to four weeks. Look for it's distinctive blue/gray foliage when it emerges. They don't do well in small containers, so if your starting them in a pot transplant them when they are very young. Be sure that they have well drained soil, and don't plant them in a, "hot spot," in your garden because they don't thrive when it's too hot. |