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TheCalifornia poppy , Eschscholzia californica [ es - SHOLT - zee - uh ] [ kal - ih - FOR - nik - uh ] is a perennial inflorescence works belong to the Papaveraceae family .
It was the first named species of the Eschscholzia genus named by Adelbert von Chamisso for botanist Johann Friedrich von Eschscholtz after an expedition to the Pacific and California aboard a Russian ship circa 1810 .
It ’s native to the United States and Mexico .
Since 1903 the wild flower became the prescribed state flower of California . April 6 is California Poppy Day .
This flower has extended into Oregon , Washington , Nevada , Arizona , New Mexico , Sonora , and northwest Baja California .
This southern California aboriginal plant was valued by Native Americans who used the golden state flower as a food source and for the oil colour extracted from the plant .
California ’s nickname as “ the golden state ” is a reference to the golden surge era and has less to do with the states golden dark-brown hillside as often stated .
Some other uncouth names you may find out include :
California Poppy Care
Size and Growth
This industrial plant grows to be 4 ” – 12 ” inches in height .
When it blooms , the flower petal rise 2 ” – 6 ” column inch long with adequate width .
The plant grow fruits 3 ” – 9 ” inches long .
Flowering and Fragrance
California Poppy bloom in saltation and other summer .
It hasfern - like gamy - common leaveswith 4 rounded flower petal that raise in pale yellow to brilliant orange in the natural state .
The flower petal close whenever there ’s cold-blooded and tedious weather but reopen in favorable conditions .
At the end of the blossoming hertz , the beautiful flower petal descend and reveal a seed seedpod .
When the seed pod ripens it will down undetermined and turn lowly black seminal fluid resembling poppy seeds used in foods
Light and Temperature
If you want to bask this plant , it ’s best to grow it in full Dominicus . The more light it catch – the full .
California Poppy does well at temperatures between 55 ° – 80 ° degrees Fahrenheit ( 13 ° C – 27 ° C ) .
However , it ’s hardy down to temperature as low as 15 ° degrees Fahrenheit ( -9 ° C ) and as gamey as 90 degrees Fahrenheit ( 32 ° C ) .
Watering and Feeding
California Poppy is a drought tolerant plant and does better in siccative term .
This works does not require much pee , avoid overwatering .
Let the territory juiceless between waterings to deflect leaving the flora standing in soggy dirt .
Your plant life will not ask to feast unless it ’s showing signs of nutritional deficiency .
If you remark yellowed leaves or stunted growth , use a balanced plant food .
Do not overfeed .
Too much fertilizer results in excessive leaf growth which gets in the way of flowering .
Soil and Transplanting
California Poppy likes well - draining , rich soils such as clay and loam but it will still survive in poorer soil .
The idealistic pH kitchen stove for this plant ’s soil is 6.5 to 7.5 .
To add some extra nutrition to your soil , you could apply organic compost as an addition to the soil .
It will help the plant flush better .
If you ’re using a poor - lineament dry land , you may need to water your plant more to ensure optimum health .
California Poppy does not transpose well .
It does not wish root disturbance and the good way to propagate it ’s to use seed .
Grooming and Maintenance
To protract the flowering season of your plant , get rid of the older prime .
If your poppy become too dumb , trim them so there are at least 4″ – 8 ” inches of distance between the plants .
More on Poppies :
How to Propagate California Poppy
California Poppy propagates best through seeds .
If you ’re using poor or common soil , you may need extra watering .
Propagation is well done between 60 ° – 70 ° degrees Fahrenheit ( 16 ° C – 21 ° C ) .
California Poppy Pest or Disease Problems
California Poppy is typically pestilence - spare .
However , it ’s susceptible to aphid , thrip , and some diseases because of overwatering and too much moisture , such asgray moldandpowdery mildew .
Suggested Uses for California Poppy
Apart from being a beautiful ornamental addition to your landscape painting , California Poppy was also used in several herbal remedies , cosmetics , and for cookery .
This plant also provides food for insects and pollinator .
