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California Poppy, Golden Poppy
Eschscholzia californica

California poppy has bluish-green parsley-shaped leaves. In the native range, where it is dry or there are cold hard winters, this species is an annual (living only one year and then reseeding). If pollinated, the resulting fruit is a long, slender pod that dries and splits, shooting tiny round black seeds in all directions. This species is said to be a 'drought escaper' because it lies dormant as seed for what might be years in some areas. When a good rain comes, seeds rapidly take root. Seedlings do not transplant well as they have a tap root.

• Special Note(s): All parts of this plant are poisonous if ingested.
• Plant type: Annual, Perennial, Native
• Maintenance level: Low
• Water requirement: Low
• Sun exposure: Full
• Height range: 6–18 Inches
• Width range: 6–18 Inches
• Canopy value: 1 ft²
• Growth rate: Fast
• Seasonal habit: Deciduous
• Flower color: Yellow, Orange
• Flower season: Spring, Summer
• Fruit color: Green, Blue
• Fruit season: Summer, Autumn
• General foliage color: Green, Blue
• Design style: Pollinator Plants
• Hardiness cold tolerance: -10 °F
• Soil preference: Well Drained, Dry
• Native location: Western North America
• PH preference: Neutral, Not Particular
• Sunset zones: A1, A2, A3, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, H1, H2
• USDA hardiness zone: 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b

Plant characteristic definitions