California Poppy Orange King Seeds - Eschscholzia californica

Eschscholzia californica 'Orange King' is a haughty variety of California Poppy which brings a great touch of good cheer to any setting. The bright, pure orange flowers of this poppy dominate the finely cut, silvery, highly ornamental foliage from spring until late summer, depending on the climate and the date when seeds were sown. Just as at home in flowering meadows as in sophisticated flower beds, this plant readily withstands heat, drought and poor soil. It self-seeds and naturalizes very easily in light soil.

California Poppy ‘Orange King' is a variety obtained from Eschscholzia californica, a short-lived perennial native to California and the Southwestern United States. This plant develops a taproot and quickly forms a clump of foliage, 30cm in height and width. The leaves are pinnate, finely cut and of a particularly attractive colour varying between bluish green and green-grey, that contrasts nicely with the colour of its flowers. Flowering takes place from spring to autumn. Autumn seedlings (in mild climates) start flowering in May whilst spring seedlings flower from July to September-October. The flowers are borne 45cm above the ground. They form silky, 5cm cups made up of 5 to 6 petals, that reflect the sun and only open when conditions are bright enough. The flowers are melliferous and nectar-rich and are followed by the formation of long, tapering, 7 to 8cm long, glaucous capsules that contain tiny seeds.

California poppies are a godsend for dry gardens, rock gardens, poor, difficult soils and seaside gardens. They can be sown in perennial beds, natural areas of the garden or even in pots. They are perfect plants for maintenance-free gardens or weekend gardens. Their colours blend beautifully with light blue and mauve hues. To easily create a small flowery meadow, mix their seeds with those of love-in-a-mist, wild poppies, southern globe thistle and hare's tail grass (Lagurus ovatus), all of which enjoy the same growing conditions and bloom for a long period of time. Eschscholzia are pretty but short-lived in bouquets.