Is California Poppy deer resistant?
Eschscholzia californica
Plant typeAnnualHardinessGrown as an annual, any zoneLightFull sunMature height12–24 inBloomSpring and Summer
MaintenanceLow, mostly leave it alone
Native range30 US states
About California Poppy
Sow it where it is to flower and never feed it, because rich soil produces leaves instead of flowers. It self-sows into gravel indefinitely.
Soil and care
- Soil pH
- 6 to 7.5
- Drainage
- Sharp, gritty. Will rot in wet soil
- Water
- Low
- Spacing
- 8 to 12 in apart
- Growth rate
- Fast
- Maintenance
- Low
Similar to California Poppy
Other annuals with the same deer rating.
- Annual CandytuftIberis umbellataGrown as an annual, any zoneSeldom damaged
- Annual SalviaSalvia splendensGrown as an annual, any zoneSeldom damaged
- Annual VerbenaVerbena x hybridaGrown as an annual, any zoneSeldom damaged
- Bachelor's ButtonsCentaurea cyanusGrown as an annual, any zoneSeldom damaged
- BasilOcimum basilicumGrown as an annual, any zoneSeldom damaged
- BorageBorago officinalisGrown as an annual, any zoneSeldom damaged
Where California Poppy grows
Hardy across most of these 51 states on zone range alone. Mountain and coastal areas sit outside the ranges used here, so check your own zone before ordering.
- Pennsylvanianative
- New Jersey
- New Yorknative
- Connecticutnative
- Massachusettsnative
- Virginia
- Maryland
- Michigannative
- Wisconsinnative
- Ohionative
- Indiana
- Illinoisnative
- Minnesota
- Missourinative
- North Carolinanative
- Tennesseenative
- Georgianative
- Texasnative
- Coloradonative
- Californianative
- Oregonnative
- Washingtonnative
- New Hampshirenative
- Vermont
- Maine
- Rhode Island
- Delawarenative
- West Virginia
- Kentuckynative
- South Carolinanative
- Florida
- Alabamanative
- Mississippi
- Louisiananative
- Arkansas
- Oklahoma
- Kansas
- Nebraskanative
- Iowa
- North Dakota
- South Dakota
- Montana
- Wyomingnative
- Idahonative
- Utahnative
- Nevadanative
- Arizonanative
- New Mexiconative
- Alaska
- District of Columbia
- Hawaii
Highlighted states are within its native range according to the USDA PLANTS database, where it is native to 30 US states in total.
Browse from here
Every list California Poppy belongs to.
Hardy in these zones
Common questions about California Poppy
- Is California Poppy deer resistant?
- California Poppy (Eschscholzia californica) is rated Seldom Severely Damaged on the Rutgers NJAES four-tier scale. Light browsing at worst; rarely ruined.
- What hardiness zones does California Poppy grow in?
- California Poppy is hardy in USDA zones 2 to 11. Outside that range it will either not survive winter or will struggle with summer heat.
- Does California Poppy grow in shade?
- No. California Poppy wants full sun and will grow thin and flop in shade.
- How big does California Poppy get?
- Mature height is roughly 12–24 in. Growth rate is fast.