California Poppy Summer Sorbet Seeds - Eschscholzia californica

This recent variety exhibits an unusual colour that is imbued with vivacity and mellowness, all at the same time. These California poppies also called Eschscholzia californica 'Summer Sorbet', bloom in bright rose-pink flowers that are softened by creamy-white centres, making for a combination as delicious as that of vanilla and strawberry. This annual blooms for a long period of time above a tidal wave of very finely cut, bluish-green leaves, producing a fantastic effect. Just as at home in cloister gardens as in sophisticated flower beds, this plant with blooms as delicate as silk, readily withstands heat, drought and poor soils. It self-seeds very easily in light soil.

California Poppy ‘Summer Sorbet' is a recent and original variety obtained from Eschscholzia californica, a short-lived perennial native to California and the Southwestern United States. This plant develops a taproot and quickly forms a clump of foliage, 25cm in height and width. The leaves are pinnate, finely cut and of a particularly attractive colour varying between bluish green and green-grey, that contrasts beautifully with the colour of its flowers. Flowering takes place from spring to autumn, depending on when the seedlings were sown. It reveals in the midst of its foliage, single, silky, cup-shaped flowers that reflect the sunlight and only open when conditions are bright enough. They are bicoloured with crinkled, bright rose-pink petals surrounding a creamy white centre. The flowers are melliferous and nectar-rich. They are followed by the formation of long, tapering, 7 to 8cm long, glaucous capsules that contain tiny seeds.

California poppies are a godsend for dry gardens, rock gardens, poor, difficult soils and seaside gardens. They can be sown in perennial beds, natural areas of the garden or even in pots. They are perfect plants for maintenance-free gardens or weekend gardens. Their colours blend beautifully with light blue and mauve hues. They are pretty but short-lived in bouquets.