Poppy, California
74 in stock
Quick Overview
ONE PACKET WEIGHS 250 MG – CONTAINS APPROXIMATELY 50 SEEDS
Poppy seed is some of the most extraordinary seed known to mankind. Seeds can be stored or buried for sometimes hundreds of years and yet will germinate when the soil is turned or the seeds are exposed to light. The annual varieties require full sun, but the perennial varieties prefer partial shade to full sun. Poppies do not like to be transplanted so sow the seed where the plants are intended to grow. Seed sown in the late fall, generally, does better than seed sown in the early spring. Cover the seed with a light dusting of soil – no more than 1/8 of an inch. Thin seedlings to 10-12 inches. The plants bloom in June and early July.
| Type | Spacing | Planting Depth | Days to Germination | Days to Blossoms |
| Annual | 6-8 in. | 1/8 in. | 14-21 | 30-45 |
California Poppy
Poppies are native to the temperate regions of the world and have been known and cultivated for thousands of years, primarily for medicinal purposes. There are more than 50 species of annual and perennial poppies native to Europe and at least 100 varieties that are indigenous to other areas of the Northern Hemisphere and California, in particular.
The Romans are believed to have introduced the poppy into Great Britain. The Latin name, Papaver, comes from the word, Pappa which means milky juice. The plants have a long history in the mythology and legend of most Western cultures. They were recognized as symbols of fertility (a single seed pod can contain as many as 32,000 seeds), fecundity and also death – used as a token of remembrance.
In 1794, the Opium Poppy was grown for the first time in Great Britain for commercial purposes. Prior to this the same poppy had been a popular cottage garden flower grown exclusively for its floral beauty. The narcotic properties of the Opium Poppy have greatly overshadowed the value of this plant. Humorously, it is legal to sell opium poppy seeds in the United States, but it is illegal to grow them.
The California Poppy, Eschsholtzia californica, is a salt tolerant, annual, native of California. In the 19th century the plant was known, scientifically, as Chriseis Californica. The California Poppy was beloved by Native Americans and the early settlers. It was first described in 1792 as an annual having flowers of yellow, orange and white. Later, rose, carmine and scarlet varieties were discovered. One of the original names for California was the Land of Fire because the brilliant colors of the California Poppies blooming on the hillsides. Joseph Breck in his 1851 book, The Flower Garden, stated,
“Chriseis Californica. – Formerly Eschsholtzia. – Grows two feet high; blooms from June to September. Flowers brilliant shining yellow. Scarcely any plant produces a greater degree of splendor than this; when the full sun is upon it, it makes a complete blaze of color. It is a most suitable plant for producing a distant effect…”
The California Poppy does not like to be transplanted so sow seeds in either the fall or spring where the flowers are to be grown. Seeds sometimes perform better whe sown in the fall.
