California Poppies
$4.00
Golden California state flower — a drought-tolerant wildflower that self-sows for effortless beauty year after year. The silky, tissue-paper petals glow in the sun and close on cloudy days. Growing tips: Scatter seeds in fall or very early spring directly on prepared soil — California poppies need no pampering. They thrive on neglect and actually prefer our poor, well-drained Owens Valley soil. Overwatering and rich soil make them leggy. Once established, they self-sow prolifically and naturalize beautifully. They are perennial in our climate, dying back in winter and returning in spring. The blue-green ferny foliage is attractive even when plants are not in bloom.
Interested in this plant?
Contact us to check availability and arrange pickup. We sell locally in Big Pine, CA.
More Flowers
Sunflowers
Cheerful, towering sunflowers that are the ultimate garden showstopper. A magnet for pollinators, birds, and smiles. Varieties include: Mongolian Giant (immense 8-12+ feet tall with dinner-plate-sized heads and bright yellow petals — great for shade and dramatic focal points), Red Torch (stunning red and yellow bicolor blooms — attractive to pollinators; WARNING: do not eat this variety), and Ring of Fire (striking red and yellow flame pattern, 4-6 feet tall — excellent cut flowers). Growing tips: Direct sow after last frost — sunflowers grow fast and do not like transplanting. Mongolian Giants need staking or support in windy areas. Our Owens Valley sun produces excellent sunflowers with strong stalks and heavy seed heads. Leave spent heads for the birds in fall, or harvest seeds for roasting. All varieties prefer full sun and well-drained soil.
Marigold
Bright, cheerful marigolds that earn their place in every garden as both beauty and bodyguard. They repel many common pests, attract pollinators, and bloom nonstop from planting to frost. Growing tips: Marigolds are one of the most foolproof annual flowers. Direct sow or transplant after last frost. Deadhead spent blooms to keep them flowering. French marigolds (smaller) are best for pest deterrence near vegetables; African marigolds (taller) make a bigger visual impact. In our climate, marigolds thrive on neglect — they prefer less water and lean soil. Plant them around tomatoes, peppers, and squash as companion plants.
Calendula Marigold
Medicinal calendula (pot marigold) with edible orange and yellow petals — not to be confused with common marigolds. Calendula is used in healing salves, skin care products, herbal teas, and as a beautiful edible flower. Growing tips: Calendula is one of the most useful plants in the garden. The petals have anti-inflammatory and skin-healing properties — infuse them in olive oil for a soothing salve. Scatter fresh petals in salads for a pop of color, or use as a natural food coloring (sometimes called "poor man's saffron"). Calendula prefers cool weather and blooms best in spring and fall. In our climate, it self-sows readily and often pops up in unexpected places — a welcome volunteer.
Zinnia
Vibrant, long-lasting zinnias in a rainbow of colors that bloom from midsummer until frost. The ultimate cut-and-come-again flower — the more you cut, the more they bloom. Growing tips: Direct sow after last frost — zinnias grow fast in warm soil. They are tailor-made for our Owens Valley climate: they love heat, full sun, and can handle our alkaline soil. Space plants for good air circulation to prevent powdery mildew. Deadhead regularly or, better yet, cut armloads of flowers for the house — cutting encourages more blooms. Mix heights and colors for a cottage-garden look. Zinnias attract butterflies like no other flower.