California Poppy in Zone 10a & 10b

Eschscholzia californica

When to plant california poppy in zone 10b

Zones 10a and 10b share the same average frost dates in our data, so this page covers both.

Method: Direct sow: Direct-sow outside. California Poppy doesn't transplant well, or doesn't need the extra time indoors.

Spacing: 2 per square foot (square-foot-gardening spacing). Mature height: 0.5-1 ft.

California poppy is a direct-sow-only flower, and not because it's fussy. It's the opposite, thriving on neglect once it's in the ground. It stays under a foot tall, silky cup-shaped orange or yellow blooms over finely cut, blue-green ferny foliage. The catch is that the seed needs light to germinate, so anyone used to burying seed a half-inch deep will bury this one right out of viability.

How california poppy fits zone 10's season

Zone 10b's frost-free window runs about 324 days, from January 30 to December 20. California Poppy needs about 80 days from sowing to first harvest.

Good companions

No standout companions recorded yet for California Poppy.

Where to buy california poppy seeds

• Botanical Interests
• True Leaf Market
• Burpee
• High Mowing Organic Seeds

See why we recommend these suppliers →

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Some links on this page also go to other retailers we may earn a commission from as an affiliate, at no extra cost to you. We only recommend products with a genuine consensus of positive, independent reviews. See the sources cited on each item.

See it growing

Search YouTube for "growing california poppy" videos → (a live search, not a hand-picked video; results vary and aren't vetted by us)

← Back to the full zone 10b calendar · Full companion planting guide · Full plant profile · Plan your beds in the Garden Designer →

Pin this for later

Growing California Poppy in USDA zone 10b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a bloom.

Save to Pinterest