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california slang state names
California Indians cherished the poppy as both a source of food and for oil extracted from the seeds of the plant. Its botanical name, Eschsholtzia californica, was given by Adelbert Von Chamisso, a botanic and member of the Prussian Academy of Sciences, who was a member of a natural expedition and anchored at San Francisco in 1816, in a bay surrounded by hills filled will these golden flowers.
And he was so impressed by the beauty and characteristics of this plant that he named it in honor to the leader of the expedition Dr. Johann Friedrich Eschsholitz.
Also sometimes this poppy is known as “the flame flower”, “la amapola”, “dormidera” (or “the drowsy one”), and “copa de oro” (“cup of gold”). The poppy grows wild throughout California. It became the state flower in 1890. And every year April 6 is the California Poppy Day, governor Wilson proclaimed May 13-18, 1996, The Poppy Week.
The bright yellow-orange flowers and finely divided gray-green foliage of the California poppy look best when it is planted in large drifts, although it grows well even in fissures of rockeries. Flowers appear in spring and last throughout the summer. With sunset, the blossom close and they rest along the night hours. They are suitable for cutting but will close at night. Place flowers in water immediately after cutting. Plants grow twelve to twenty inches high and spread up to twenty inches. The plant is not suitable for the tropics, because they need well-drained soils and dislike moisture, but will grow well in most other climates. It must have full sun and permeable soil, and even will tolerate poor soil.
Sow seeds in fall or early spring directly in the garden, as it is not easy to transplant. Seeds should be planted ¼ or less deep and take care not to remove seeds when watering. Water regularly to establish, and only an occasional deep watering is required thereafter. Plants are drought-tolerant and over watering will cause the roots to rot. Fertilizing is usually not necessary and over fertilizing may cause an excess of foliage with no flowers. California poppy grows wildly all along the state, from the coastal dunes to interior grasslands.
Although all parts of the California poppy plant are considered toxic, many American native tribes of southern California used to eat its leaves as vegetables and used the flowers and pods to prepare medicinal brews. California poppy flowers have been used by the Costanoan to induce sleep and to kill hair lice. Mendocino have used a root extract as an external cleanser, an internal cure for stomachaches, and a headache and open sore liniment. The Pomo have rubbed boiled or mashed seedpods on a nursing mother's breasts to help stop milk production.
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Super Giganthemums
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Our highly popular, seasonal Super Giganthemums are back in stock. We only have a limited supply of these popular poppy pods until the next drying season in August. These are the largest and most beautiful pods we have seen in a while.
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Poppy Information
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Want to know more about poppies? Then take a look at our poppies information pages.
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