Eschscholzia californica 'Yukon Gold'

Eschscholzia californica 'Yukon Gold' is a variety of Californian Poppy that is interesting for its 100% double and remarkably long bicolour flowering. The crumpled flowers of this poppy are adorned with a double row of intensely yellow petals, marked with a bright orange central zone. They appear to float on a finely cut, greenish-blue and highly ornamental foliage. Equally at home in cottage gardens and sophisticated borders, this plant enthusiastically tolerates heat, drought, and poor soils. Planted en masse, it is spectacular, but it also doesn't disappoint in flower pots and flower beds.

The Californian Poppy 'Yukon Gold' is a Dutch selection obtained from Eschscholzia californica, an annual plant with a short-lived perennial habit native to California and the southwestern United States. This plant with a taproot quickly forms a clump of foliage about 25-30cm (10-12in) in all directions. Its leaves are pinnate, finely cut, with a colour ranging from bluish-green to greyish-green, particularly attractive and pleasantly contrasting with the flowers. The flowering, which lasts for 3 to 4 months, occurs from early spring to autumn, and its timing depends on the sowing date. The climate also plays a role: in the case of a very dry summer, flowering dwindles in July-August and resumes at the end of summer when the rains return. The flower stalks, about 50cm (20in) tall, rise above the foliage. The flowers are solitary, double cups, with a silky texture that reflects the sunlight. They only open if the sun is generous. The flowering is attractive to bees and provides nectar. It is followed by the formation of long, slender, glaucous green capsules, about 7 to 8cm (3in) long, containing tiny seeds.

Californian poppies are a boon for dry gardens, waterless Mediterranean gardens, rockeries, and coastal areas. They can be sown in perennial borders, on slopes, in natural areas of the garden, or even in pots. They are perfect plants for low-maintenance or weekend gardens. Their colours blend beautifully with shades of blue, white, and mauve. They are pretty, but short-lived, in bouquets.