Eschscholzia californica 'Mission Bells'
Californian poppy
- approx 425 seeds
- £2.54 £2.99
- In stock (shipped within 2-3 working days)
Delivery options
- Seed Packets (only) £2.99
- Position: full sun
- Soil: poor, well-drained soil
- Rate of growth: average
- Flowering period: June to August
- Hardiness: fully hardy annual (will die after flowering, but usually self-seeds)
Californian poppies are incredibly easy to grow (they even flourish in very poor soils) but they will put on a dazzling, summer-long performance. The 'Mission Bells' mix contains a brightly coloured blend of white, red, yellow and pink shades, which are perfect for cottage gardens and meadows, although they look great in any naturalised setting. The bees love them and they also make excellent if short-lived cut-flowers.
Choose a site in full sun with well-drained soil; they thrive in poor, sandy ground and don’t need enriched compost or ground. Water sparingly once established, as they are drought-tolerant and dislike waterlogged soil. Deadhead regularly to prolong flowering. Little to no feeding is required, as too much fertiliser encourages leaves rather than flowers.
Prepare the bed well and sow Californian poppy seeds shallowly into drills from from March to May where they are to flower. When large enough to handle thin out the seedlings to 10-15cm (6in) apart, taking care not to damage the tap roots of the retained seedlings. Water when necessary, but avoid excessively wet conditions. Seeds sown in late summer and early autumn will flower earlier than those sown in spring.
