Data provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria

View additional distribution information on the Jepson eflora

Eschscholzia caespitosa is a species in the Papaveraceae (Poppy) family known by the common names Tufted Poppy and Foothill poppy. It is native to western North America from Oregon to Baja California where it is a member of the chaparral plant community. In California it is found primarily in the central Coast Ranges, the Sierra foothills, and the Transverse Range. This is an annual herb which is quite similar in appearance to its relative, the California Poppy (Eschscholzia californica). It produces patches of foliage made up of several leaflets per leaf and thin, erect stems up to 30 centimeters in height. The poppy flower has orange to yellow petals each one to two and a half centimeters long. The fruit is a cylindrical capsule 4 to 8 centimeters long containing tiny dark netted seeds. Because it is an annual, it is best used in a meadow-like setting with other annuals (see below).

Plant type

Annual herb

Size

2 - 12 in Tall
1 ft Wide

Fragrance

Pleasant

Calscape icon
Color

Yellow, Orange

Flowering season

Spring, Summer

Sun

Full Sun

Water

Very Low

Summer irrigation

Max 3x / month once established

Ease of care

Moderate

Cold tolerance

Tolerates cold to 5° F

Soil drainage

Medium

Soil description

Prefers average to rich soil.
Soil PH: 6.0 - 8.0

Propagation

By seed, no treatment needed

Sunset Zones

7*, 8, 9, 11, 14*, 15*, 16*, 17, 18*, 19*, 20*, 21*, 22*, 23*, 24*

Site type

Open places, slopes and flats of moderately hilly areas

Plant communities

Chaparral, Foothill Woodland, Valley Grassland

Lupinus species, Phacelia species, Clarkia species, Abronia species, Calfornia Buckwheat, White Sage (Salvia apiana), Chinese Houses, California Fuschia

Birds
Bees
Caterpillars
Butterflies

Butterflies and moths supported

0 confirmed and 2 likely

Confirmed Likely

Neoterpes edwardsata

Ni Moth

Trichoplusia ni