Sun or light shade. An annual spring wildflower or (tender) perennial, Eschscholzia is drought-hardy summer poppy, with skeletal bluish foliage and chalice-shaped electric orange flowers. It reseeds readily, even becoming weedy among other native wildflowers at some sites.
In perfect conditions, California poppy may bloom all summer long.
Plant by seed in autumn; seed should make contact with bare soil in well-drained full sun. With sufficient rain in winter, profuse spring blooms may last until the summer heat; spent foliage can be cut after seeds have set. Plants may endure as perennials if they receive occasional water in summer; otherwise they’ll return by seed the next year.
