Golden poppy, California sunlight, cup of gold; whatever name you use, California poppy (Eschscholzia californica) brushes any landscape with gorgeous color throughout the growing season. This easy-to-grow plant–which can be annual or perennial depending on how cold winter is–may be anywhere from 12 to 30 cm (5-12″) in height, with vibrant, four-petaled flowers ranging from yellow to red-orange in color. These will often close up at night (and on cloudy days), re-opening with the day’s sunlight, and appear anywhere from February to at least September in our area (the photos here are from my yard in early October!). The alternate, diffuse leaves are a lovely, contrasting blue-green hue. California poppy will readily self-seed if planted in a favorable location, ideally full sun with well-drained soil, and requires little to no care. Its seeds, leaves, and flower petals are all edible, though–like other plants in the poppy family–they may produce mild sedative effects. (Always triple-check your ID before consuming any plant!)
California poppy grows in a wide variety of habitats, including meadows, roadside and unmanaged areas, and anywhere with plenty of sun and good drainage. Its native range runs from Washington through northern Mexico. It produces a large amount of pollen, making it a favorite for many local pollinators (most notably bumblebees, who will roll drunkenly about inside of the flowers–seriously, it’s adorable), but the pollen is not wind-dispersed, so allergy sufferers needn’t shy away!
