How to Grow Californian Poppy
'Thai Rose Chiffon' from Seed
Ruffled semi-double poppies in dusky rose, blush and cream over fine blue-grey foliage. Made for poor, dry, sunny ground where little else will grow.
Most people know Californian poppies as a hard, brilliant orange. 'Thai Rose Chiffon' is something quite different: semi-double, ruffled flowers in dusky rose, blush and cream, above the fine blue-grey feathery foliage that makes the plant attractive even before it flowers.
It belongs on poor, dry, sharply drained ground in full sun. Gravel paths, the top of a wall, the parched strip beside a drive: all the places nothing else wants. Sow it where it is to flower, leave it alone, and it will often seed itself for years to come.
Quick Facts at a Glance
Plant Type
Hardy annual
Sowing Time
Mar to May · Sep, direct
Flowering
June to September
Position
Full sun, poor dry soil
Sow
Where it is to flower
Difficulty
1 out of 5, very easy
Understanding the Plant
'Thai Rose Chiffon' is a variety of Eschscholzia californica, the Californian poppy. It is a hardy annual native to dry grassland and coastal hills, which explains its love of heat, sun and thin soil.
Flowers open in sunshine and close in dull weather and at night. The ruffled, semi-double blooms vary between dusky rose, blush and cream, so a patch gives a soft mix of shades.
Never transplant
Californian poppies grow a long taproot very early and will die rather than be moved. Always sow directly where you want them to flower, and thin seedlings rather than transplanting them.
When & How to Sow
Sow direct outdoors from March to May for summer flowers, or in September for earlier, stronger plants the following year on well-drained ground.
Sow thinly
Mix the seed with a little dry sand and scatter it over raked soil. It is easier to thin a few seedlings than to deal with a crowded patch.
Prepare a bare, sunny patch. Rake the soil to a fine surface. No compost or feeding is needed.
Scatter and lightly cover. Scatter seed thinly and rake it in lightly or press it onto the surface. Water gently. Seedlings usually appear in one to three weeks.
Thin in place. When seedlings are a few centimetres tall, thin them to 15 to 20cm apart. Do not try to move the thinnings.
Growing On Tips
Hot and dry
Full sun and poor, sharply drained soil give the best flowering.
Gravel and walls
Perfect for gravel gardens, path edges, wall tops and dry banks.
Hardly any water
Water only to settle seed. Once growing, plants cope with drought.
Deadhead for longer
Remove spent flowers and seed pods to extend flowering.
Let it self-seed
Leave some pods to ripen at the end of summer. Self-sown seedlings are often the strongest plants.
Pollinators
Open flowers attract bees on sunny days.
Common Problems & How to Fix Them
| Problem | Likely Cause | What to Do |
|---|---|---|
| Transplanted seedlings die | Damaged taproot | Always sow where plants are to flower. |
| Plants leggy and floppy | Rich soil or shade | Grow in poor soil and full sun. |
| Flowers stay closed | Dull or cold weather | Normal behaviour; flowers open again in sunshine. |
| Seedlings rot | Heavy, wet ground | Sow on well-drained soil or add grit. |
| Some plants less ruffled | Natural variation | Save seed from the most ruffled plants. |
When to Expect Flowers
Spring sowings flower from early summer, around June, and carry on through September. Autumn sowings give earlier flowers the following year.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🌱 Sow direct | ||||||||||||
| 🌸 Flowering |
Plant Specifications
Dusky rose poppies for dry, sunny ground
Scatter the seed where you want it to flower, thin the seedlings and leave them be. You will have ruffled rose and cream flowers all summer.
Shop Californian Poppy Thai Rose Chiffon Seeds →