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California Poppy Seeds

1/4 Pound
Price:
$6.95
1 Pound
Price:
$24.95

Customer Rating:

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Quick Overview

Lights up whole hills on the Pacific, but will do the same anywhere. No meadow can be without it. Annual.

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Details
SKU ESCG
Common Name California Poppy
Botanical Name Eschscholzia californica
Plant Type/Life Cycle Annual
Seeds Per Pound 294,835
Bloom Time Spring to summer
Primary Flower Color Orange
Light Requirements Full Sun, Mostly Sunny
Estimated Mature Height 12-18 inches tall
Soil Moisture Average, Well Draining
Will Tolerate Sandy Soil, Loamy Soil
Native To North America
Native to California
Ships As Seed
Ideal Growing Region Northeast, Southeast, Midwest, Southwest, West, Pacific NorthWest
Zones 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Suggested Uses Deer Resistant, Showy Flowers, Extended Blooms, Easy to Grow
Additional Advantages Perennial is warm regions. Annual in cold regions.
Is It Storable? Yes - You can store your seed in any cool (not freezing) dry place that is not subject to extreme temperature variations.
Description
This famous flower, the state flower of California, (a very similar sub-species is called Mexican Gold Poppy) carpets whole coastal hillsides up and down the Pacific coast, creating one of the most famous natural wildflower displays in the world, usually in April. Viewing this spectacle from their ships, Spanish explorers thought the “golden display” meant that there was in fact, gold to be found in the flowery hills. California poppy performs well almost everywhere with its dusty dark green ferny foliage and brilliant golden orange cup shaped flowers. A blooming plant is somewhat frost-resistant, and often reblooms nicely in fall meadows. Flowers close in cloudy weather. The name “Eschscholzia” is after the Russian botanist, J. F. Eschscholtz, who visited the California coast in the early 1800’s.
Reviews

REVIEW SNAPSHOT®

by PowerReviews
American Meadows California Poppy Seeds
 
3.9

(based on 16 reviews)

Ratings Distribution

  • 5 Stars

     

    (10)

  • 4 Stars

     

    (1)

  • 3 Stars

     

    (1)

  • 2 Stars

     

    (1)

  • 1 Stars

     

    (3)

75%

of respondents would recommend this to a friend.

Pros

  • Attractive (8)
  • Hardy (7)
  • Vivid colors (6)
  • Accurate instructions (5)
  • Healthy (5)

Cons

    Best Uses

    • Outdoors (8)
    • Garden (6)
    • Large areas (5)
    • Patio (3)
      • Reviewer Profile:
      • Avid gardener (10), Casual hobbyist (4)
      • Primary use:
      • Personal (9)

    Most Liked Positive Review

     

    Native grace & renewal: Calif. Poppies

    My first garden for the public views: native California Poppies, proved invaluable towards Community positivity and beauty. I chose to lightly break ground in four rain cycles from December 20th thru April. Sprouts ...Read complete review

    My first garden for the public views: native California Poppies, proved invaluable towards Community positivity and beauty. I chose to lightly break ground in four rain cycles from December 20th thru April. Sprouts appeared within 2 weeks throughout the plantings, appearing delightfully blue grey. Cycles of blossoms lasted through July. Minor watering was with hand carried gallons, making key differences in isolated dry spots. The second year crop is unplanted, affluent and gloriously ending a first cycle at March 26th review date. Delightful for children at this price and resillency, though not best as picked flowers. I suggest bachelor's buttons for picking, drying and color compliment.

    VS

    Most Liked Negative Review

     

    Disappointed

    I have purchased over the years probably 8 lbs. of California poppy seeds from American Meadows. I continue to be disappointed in the germination of what is a local wildflower. California poppies bloom with...Read complete review

    I have purchased over the years probably 8 lbs. of California poppy seeds from American Meadows. I continue to be disappointed in the germination of what is a local wildflower. California poppies bloom with regularity along our highways, but I continue to be unable to get a significant bloom from the seed I purchase from you. I don't know what I can do to improve the germination. I prepare the seed bed, water two to three times daily for at least 4 - 6 weeks, and still I only get a small amount of poppies for my efforts.

    Reviewed by 16 customers

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    Displaying reviews 1-16

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    3.0

    Poppies! Poppies!

    By Jolee's mom

    from Brea, CA

    About Me Casual Hobbyist

    Verified Reviewer

    Pros

    • Reliable Growth
    • Vivid Colors

    Cons

      Best Uses

      • Border Control
      • Large Areas

      Comments about American Meadows California Poppy Seeds:

      Plenty of seeds to spread over the intended area. Flowerbed gets full sun all day, so dirt there was baked hard. With little prep work, seeds were spread, and lightly covered with soil. Planted with Nasturtium seeds. Watered lightly after planting. Plants came up in expected time; took awhile longer for blooms to show. There aren't as many of the poppy flowers as there are nasturtium, but it's still early in the season. The plants make a perfect groundcover - the entire planting area is covered beautifully.

       
      5.0

      Great in rock gardens

      By Bob

      from Columbia County NY

      About Me Avid Gardener

      Pros

      • Drought tolerant
      • Long Bloom Time
      • Low Maintenance
      • Pest Resistant
      • Reliable Growth
      • Vivid Colors

      Cons

      • Can get leggy

      Best Uses

      • Border Control
      • Containers
      • Large Areas
      • Mix with succulents

      Comments about American Meadows California Poppy Seeds:

      These are great in that they are all one color (orange and bloom from july -September. I mixed them in our sedum and rock garden and hope they will reseed for seasons to come!

      (1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

       
      1.0

      Very Low Germination Yield

      By Rich

      from Ahwahnee, CA

      About Me Casual Hobbyist

      Verified Reviewer

      Pros

      • Vivid Colors

      Cons

        Best Uses

          Comments about American Meadows California Poppy Seeds:

          I purchased 1/2 lb of poppy seeds in the Fall 2010. I followed the instructions, exactly: rototilled, watered until weeds sprouted, killed weeds with Roundup, waited, sowed seeds.
          So far this Spring exactly 5 poppies sprouted. Note: I planted 1/4 lb red poppies (Papaver rhoeas) in an adjacent bed at the same time and got hundreds of blooms. I live in the Sierra foothills, lots of CA poppies eveerywhere.

           
          5.0

          Orlando (Central FL) loves CA Poppy!

          By Orlando1

          from Orlando, FL

          About Me Casual Hobbyist

          Verified Reviewer

          Pros

          • Low Maintenance
          • Reliable Growth
          • Vivid Colors

          Cons

          • Short Bloom Time

          Best Uses

          • Large Areas

          Comments about American Meadows California Poppy Seeds:

          I just threw the CA Poppy seed on the unprepaired ground of an overgrown lot behind our house in late December (after the first frost so the existing tall grass and weeds were all brown and dormant), and by March we had tons of bright orange poppy flowers in the field! It looked so awesome, but the flowers were overgrown and wilted in the Central FL heat by late May. Short but sweet wildflower beauty! I would recommend planting poppies in FL in mid to late Dec as they are frost and freeze tolerant and do better in the cool weather. They do not like temps over 80 to 85 for very long. 40's to 70's and sunny is perfect. No supplemental water and no frost protection needed.

          (1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

           
          5.0

          Stunning Display

          By Hyphenated Lady

          from Enterprise, OR

          About Me Getting Started

          Verified Reviewer

          Pros

          • Long Bloom Time
          • Low Maintenance
          • Reliable Growth
          • Vivid Colors

          Cons

            Best Uses

            • Erosion Control
            • Large Areas

            Comments about American Meadows California Poppy Seeds:

            We have just finished a new home on 3 acres of property. The home is above the first hole of a golf course and is cut into a side hill leaving me with several steep banks. I hydro seeded blue flax on the largest bank to hold it and edged it with poppy seeds from American Meadows. The other large bank is mostly rock and a gritty soil. I planted California Poppies and African Daisys from American Meadows and they are growing in profusion. We live in a Mountain Valley on the edge of Hell's Canyon and have a very short growing season. It has been known to snow on the 4th of July. All of these flowers are blooming their heads off with virtually no attention, particularly in the acreage. It has provided instant gratification as a new garden for our new house. I can't imagine all of the negative comments about the poppies. We have harsh weather and extremely poor soil and the poppies love it. I have used the wild flower mix to begin naturalizing some of the acreage. I have just ordered several pounds of wildflower seeds and expect our naturalizing to be outstanding next Spring. By the way, I was unaware they should be planted in the Fall. I planted mine in the Spring and they were probably a bit later than usual, but by August the display was outstanding.

             
            1.0

            Disappointed

            By Lenny

            from Aguanga, CA

            About Me Casual Hobbyist

            Pros

            • Vivid Colors

            Cons

            • Disappointing germination

            Best Uses

            • Large Areas

            Comments about American Meadows California Poppy Seeds:

            I have purchased over the years probably 8 lbs. of California poppy seeds from American Meadows. I continue to be disappointed in the germination of what is a local wildflower. California poppies bloom with regularity along our highways, but I continue to be unable to get a significant bloom from the seed I purchase from you. I don't know what I can do to improve the germination. I prepare the seed bed, water two to three times daily for at least 4 - 6 weeks, and still I only get a small amount of poppies for my efforts.

             
            2.0

            Almost Impossible to Grow in VA

            By RustyNuts

            from Roanoke, VA

            About Me Avid Gardener

            Verified Reviewer

            Pros

              Cons

              • Needs Extensive Watering
              • Short Bloom Time

              Best Uses

              • Containers

              Comments about American Meadows California Poppy Seeds:

              This is the second year I've tried to get this beautiful flower established with hardly any success. First off, despite the recommended planting and watering, only about 10% actually germinate and even fewer produce flowers. I've amended my soil (we have poor soils in our region), occasionally watered with Miracle Grow and this year did my best to keep the area weeded. (The weeds were doing far better than my California Poppies).

              (1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

               
              5.0

              California Poppies

              By JP

              from Southern Arizona

              About Me Avid Gardener

              Verified Reviewer

              Pros

              • Attractive
              • Hardy
              • Healthy
              • Versatile

              Cons

                Best Uses

                • Garden
                • Outdoors

                Comments about American Meadows California Poppy Seeds:

                I planted California poppies with Mexican poppies, lupines, and California bluebells. The deep blues contrast beautifully with the intense yellow and orange of the poppies. These wildflowers did great in the desert, needed very little supplemental irrigation, were entirely pest-free. They re-seed heavily and my goal is to eventually have my entire acre full of these wildflowers.

                • Primary use:
                • Personal

                (1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

                 
                5.0

                Golden State Flower

                By bert

                from marin county, california

                About Me Avid Gardener

                Verified Reviewer

                Pros

                • Attractive
                • Hardy
                • Versatile

                Cons

                  Best Uses

                  • Garden
                  • Outdoors

                  Comments about American Meadows California Poppy Seeds:

                  Spead on a sunny hillside, they have naturalized and reseeded, just as they should. Perfect.

                  • Primary use:
                  • Personal
                   
                  1.0

                  did not do well

                  By Karen

                  from Ulster Park, NY

                  About Me Avid Gardener

                  Pros

                    Cons

                      Best Uses

                        Comments about American Meadows California Poppy Seeds:

                        Poppies did not come up at all

                        • Primary use:
                        • Personal
                         
                        5.0

                        Poppies all over the place

                        By garyrbeach

                        from Lake County, California

                        About Me Avid Gardener

                        Verified Reviewer

                        Pros

                        • Accurate Instructions
                        • Attractive
                        • Hardy
                        • Healthy

                        Cons

                          Best Uses

                          • Outdoors

                          Comments about American Meadows California Poppy Seeds:

                          I've got profusion of perfectly perky Poppies coming up from seed all over my yard. I couldn't be happier with the results. I'll definitely be ordering more of the same next year. I'd like to eventually cover my 4 acres in Northern California.

                          • Primary use:
                          • Personal
                           
                          5.0

                          Go;lden Poppies for the Golden State

                          By Jeanne's Flowers

                          from Butte-ti-ful Butte Counry, California

                          About Me Avid Gardener

                          Pros

                          • Accurate Instructions
                          • Attractive
                          • Hardy
                          • Healthy
                          • Lightweight
                          • Versatile

                          Cons

                            Best Uses

                            • Garden
                            • Outdoors
                            • Patio

                            Comments about American Meadows California Poppy Seeds:

                            It is next to impossible to find California Poppy Seeds in California. As a Native Californian I want to grow our state flower and have it come back year after year. From past experience with American Meadows, I know these seed grow well and the flowers are beautiful. Now I have my own gold mine in the Golden State.As always excellent service!!

                            • Primary use:
                            • Personal
                             
                            5.0

                            generous ammount will cover lots!

                            By babychops

                            from Valley Center CA

                            About Me Avid Gardener

                            Verified Reviewer

                            Pros

                            • Accurate Instructions
                            • Attractive

                            Cons

                              Best Uses

                              • Outdoors

                              Comments about American Meadows California Poppy Seeds:

                              Generous quantity of seeds, can't wait to see them bloom on my San Diego hillside!

                              • Primary use:
                              • Personal
                               
                              5.0

                              Native grace & renewal: Calif. Poppies

                              By Minangerie's Garden

                              from San Francisco Bay Area

                              About Me Getting Started

                              Verified Reviewer

                              Pros

                              • Attractive
                              • Easy to grow raineys
                              • Hardy
                              • Healthy
                              • Versatile

                              Cons

                              • Never enough room or seed

                              Best Uses

                              • Garden
                              • Outdoors
                              • Patio
                              • Public outdoor areas

                              Comments about American Meadows California Poppy Seeds:

                              My first garden for the public views: native California Poppies, proved invaluable towards Community positivity and beauty. I chose to lightly break ground in four rain cycles from December 20th thru April. Sprouts appeared within 2 weeks throughout the plantings, appearing delightfully blue grey. Cycles of blossoms lasted through July. Minor watering was with hand carried gallons, making key differences in isolated dry spots. The second year crop is unplanted, affluent and gloriously ending a first cycle at March 26th review date. Delightful for children at this price and resillency, though not best as picked flowers. I suggest bachelor's buttons for picking, drying and color compliment.

                              • Primary use:
                              • Personal
                               
                              4.0

                              Memories

                              By parfu

                              from Glen Allen, VA

                              About Me Avid Gardener

                              Pros

                              • Accurate Instructions
                              • Attractive
                              • Hardy
                              • Healthy

                              Cons

                                Best Uses

                                • Garden
                                • Outdoors

                                Comments about American Meadows California Poppy Seeds:

                                Reminds of our time in CA. Never get tired of the fields of poppies!

                                • Primary use:
                                • Personal
                                 
                                5.0

                                Awesome - Transformed my garden

                                By sporter1963

                                from Jeffersonville, NY

                                About Me Avid Gardener

                                Verified Reviewer

                                Pros

                                • Accurate Instructions
                                • Attractive
                                • Hardy

                                Cons

                                  Best Uses

                                  • Garden
                                  • Outdoors
                                  • Patio

                                  Comments about American Meadows California Poppy Seeds:

                                  I scattered these around the border my newly landscaped garden, basically starting from scratch. I had gorgeous bright orange blooms for weeks beginning mid-summer and lasting well into fall.

                                  • Primary use:
                                  • Personal

                                  Displaying reviews 1-16

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                                  Lights up whole hills on the Pacific, but will do the same anywhere. No meadow can be without it. Annual.

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