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Dark Red California Poppy Seeds

Eschscholzia californica

  • HOW TO GROW
  • FAST FACTS

HOW TO GROW

Sowing: Sow in early spring, planting the seed 1/4" below the surface of the soil; keep the soil lightly moist until germination, which should occur in 2-3 weeks at a soil temperature of 60-65 degrees. In USDA Zones 7 and warmer, this seed can be fall planted. Poppies do not transplant well, and must be planted while very small if started indoors.

Growing: Water seedlings occasionally, but decrease watering as the plants mature; poppies tolerate drought well and will only need watering in periods of extreme dryness. This plant tolerates most soils that drain well, as well as adapting to seaside conditions. This plant does not need rich soil, and actually blooms best in poor soil. Pinch off faded blossoms for the most prolific blooming. These flowers prefer cool temperatures, usually blooming in spring and early summer and going dormant when the summer heat begins. Though an annual, it will reseed itself and return the following year. Poppies attract bees and butterflies.

Harvesting: For the longest lasting cut flowers, choose poppies that have just begun to open; cut them in the morning while the moisture is at its peak. Sear the cut ends of the flowers with boiling water or a match, and immediately plunge them into cold water. Place them in a vase with water at room temperature.

Seed Saving: When saving poppy seeds, keep in mind that the resulting flowers sometimes revert to the dominant orange or red blossoms. After the petals drop off, a capsule will form and turn from green to tan. Since the capsules will eventually split and explosively release their seeds, cut them off as soon as the color begins to turn and the seed inside has ripened to grayish black. Spread the capsules out to dry for several days, then split them to remove the seeds. Store the cleaned seeds in a cool, dry place.

FAST FACTS

Common Names: Couldn't find this variety anywhere, so I wrote that it's a 'rare variety with deep red blooms', which I assume is true since it's called 'dark red'.

Latin Name: Eschscholzia californica

Species Origin: US Native Wildflower

Type: Garden Flowers

Life Cycle: Annual, Tender Perennial

USDA Zones: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

US Regions: California, Mountain, Arid/Desert, Plains/Texas, Midwest, Northern, Northeast, Southeast

Seeds per Ounce: 15,600

Stratification: No Stratification

Germination Ease: No Stratification

Sunlight: Full Sun

Height: 16 Inches

Color: Red

Bloom Season: Blooms Early Summer, Blooms Late Summer

Uses: Cut Flowers, Deer Resistant

Size Price Quantity
XL Mylar Packet (~1,000 Seeds) $3.48 Notify Me
1 Oz Mylar (~15,600 Seeds) $8.93 Notify Me
1/4 Lb Mylar (113g) $19.29 Notify Me
1 Lb Mylar (454g) $60.00 Notify Me
5 Lb Mylar (2.27kg) $270.00 Notify Me
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DESCRIPTION

This rare variety blooms in a rich, crimson hue. It is not always available, so check out Red Chief California Poppy if this variety is unavailable.
These poppies have a habit of opening and closing with the sun, appropriate for their native Golden State. The first member of the California poppy genus was identified in 1816 by German botanist Adelbert von Chamisso on an exploratory voyage to California and the Pacific Northwest. Chamisso named this genus "Eschscholzia" after a fellow botanist, Johann Friedrich von Eschscholtz, who accompanied him on the journey. Nearly a dozen species of poppy grow wild in the western United States.

HOW TO GROW

Sowing: Sow in early spring, planting the seed 1/4" below the surface of the soil; keep the soil lightly moist until germination, which should occur in 2-3 weeks at a soil temperature of 60-65 degrees. In USDA Zones 7 and warmer, this seed can be fall planted. Poppies do not transplant well, and must be planted while very small if started indoors.

Growing: Water seedlings occasionally, but decrease watering as the plants mature; poppies tolerate drought well and will only need watering in periods of extreme dryness. This plant tolerates most soils that drain well, as well as adapting to seaside conditions. This plant does not need rich soil, and actually blooms best in poor soil. Pinch off faded blossoms for the most prolific blooming. These flowers prefer cool temperatures, usually blooming in spring and early summer and going dormant when the summer heat begins. Though an annual, it will reseed itself and return the following year. Poppies attract bees and butterflies.

Harvesting: For the longest lasting cut flowers, choose poppies that have just begun to open; cut them in the morning while the moisture is at its peak. Sear the cut ends of the flowers with boiling water or a match, and immediately plunge them into cold water. Place them in a vase with water at room temperature.

Seed Saving: When saving poppy seeds, keep in mind that the resulting flowers sometimes revert to the dominant orange or red blossoms. After the petals drop off, a capsule will form and turn from green to tan. Since the capsules will eventually split and explosively release their seeds, cut them off as soon as the color begins to turn and the seed inside has ripened to grayish black. Spread the capsules out to dry for several days, then split them to remove the seeds. Store the cleaned seeds in a cool, dry place.

FAST FACTS

Common Names: Couldn't find this variety anywhere, so I wrote that it's a 'rare variety with deep red blooms', which I assume is true since it's called 'dark red'.

Latin Name: Eschscholzia californica

Species Origin: US Native Wildflower

Type: Garden Flowers

Life Cycle: Annual, Tender Perennial

USDA Zones: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

US Regions: California, Mountain, Arid/Desert, Plains/Texas, Midwest, Northern, Northeast, Southeast

Seeds per Ounce: 15,600

Stratification: No Stratification

Germination Ease: No Stratification

Sunlight: Full Sun

Height: 16 Inches

Color: Red

Bloom Season: Blooms Early Summer, Blooms Late Summer

Uses: Cut Flowers, Deer Resistant