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Eschscholzia californica 'Carmine King'
Californian poppy
Eschscholzia californica ‘Carmine King’ is a compact annual with finely cut, blue-green foliage and upright stems topped with silky, cup-shaped...
approx 500 seeds
available to order from summer
1
Delivery options
Plant description
Eschscholzia californica ‘Carmine King’ is a compact annual with finely cut, blue-green foliage and upright stems topped with silky, cup-shaped flowers in rich carmine pink. The blooms open wide in sunshine, creating a bold splash of colour that works beautifully in borders, gravel gardens or dotted through veg plots to attract pollinators.
Easy to grow and happiest in full sun with free-draining soil, it’s ideal for low-maintenance planting and copes well in lean conditions. Sow directly where it’s to flower and let it settle in for a natural, relaxed look.
For cut flowers, pick in the early morning while still in bud to enjoy them indoors for longer.
Easy to grow and happiest in full sun with free-draining soil, it’s ideal for low-maintenance planting and copes well in lean conditions. Sow directly where it’s to flower and let it settle in for a natural, relaxed look.
For cut flowers, pick in the early morning while still in bud to enjoy them indoors for longer.
Eventual height & spread
Flowering period
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Plant features
Position
Full sun
Rate of growth
Fast-growing
Soil
Moderately fertile, moist, well-drained soil
Hardiness
Fully hardy
How to care for Eschscholzia californica Carmine King:
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.
Sowing instructions:
Prepare the bed well and sow Californian poppy seeds shallowly into drills 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.
