Eschscholzia caespitosa, Tufted Poppy

Perhaps the smallest of the members of the poppy genus Eschscholzia, tufted poppy or foothill poppy, is a diminutive beauty with pale yellow petals and very finely cut foliage. This annual grows 10" to 1' tall and equally wide, and like most poppies, it can handle full sun. More delicate than E. californica, it makes a good edging plant and does well in containers.

Blooming in early to mid-spring, we enjoy it with the deep blue of desert bluebells, Phacelia campanularia and the pink-purple of beach aster, Erigeron glaucus.