Eschscholzia

Eschscholzia is a genus of 12 flowering plants in the Papaveraceae (poppy) family. The genus was named after the Baltic German botanist Johann Friedrich von Eschscholtz (1793–1831).

Many of the plants in this genus are annuals or perennials with deeply cut glabrous or glaucous leaves. These are mostly basal, but a few grow on the stem.

They feature showy four-petaled yellow or orange terminal flowers, growing solitary or in many-flowered cymes. They are funnel-shaped. The two fused sepals fall off as the flower bud opens. The petals are wedge-shaped. There are 12 to numerous stamens.

They develop a cylindrical, dehiscent fruit, giving off many tiny seeds.

They are widely cultivated. These flowers have the habit of closing in cloudy weather.

The taproot gives off a colorless or orange milky juice. These plants are toxic.

The best-known is the California Poppy (Eschscholzia californica), the state flower of California; others include E. caespitosa and E. mexicana.

Species

• Eschscholzia caespitosa : Tufted Poppy, Foothill Poppy, Collarless California Poppy
• Eschscholzia californica : California Poppy
• Eschscholzia ciliata
• Eschscholzia glyptosperma
• Eschscholzia hypecoides
• Eschscholzia lemmonii
• Eschscholzia lobbii
• Eschscholzia minutiflora
• Eschscholzia parishii
• Eschscholzia ramosa
• Eschscholzia rhombipetala

They prosper in warm, dry climates, but withstand some frost. They grow in poor soils with good water drainage.