Tufted Poppy Plant Care

Tufted Poppy (Eschscholzia caespitosa) belongs to the Papaveraceae family within the Eschscholzia genus. Tufted Poppy is also known as Low California Poppy.

Tufted Poppy displays a low rosette, clumping growth habit, reaching up to 1 ft tall with a spread of approximately 1 ft. Tufted Poppy produces bright, cup-shaped flowers in shades of yellow, orange, or white.

Leaf size: approximately 3 inches.

Water a young or newly planted Tufted Poppy every 7–10 days, soaking the whole root zone, until it is established — usually one to two growing seasons. Established shrubs mainly need water during long dry spells. In a container, water whenever the top few centimetres of soil are dry.

Tufted Poppy thrives in full sun to partial shade.

Eschscholzia caespitosa tolerates temperatures of 50–80°F. Tufted Poppy prefers humidity levels of 40–60%.

Well-draining sandy soil with low to medium fertility. Good drainage is essential for Tufted Poppy to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.

Feed Tufted Poppy every 6 months during the growing season with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer at the rate on the label. Established shrubs in good soil often need little extra feeding, so let weak growth or pale foliage guide you.

Stop feeding by late summer so new growth can harden before winter.

The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.

Choose a spot with full sun to partial shade and well-draining sandy soil with low to medium fertility. Avoid low spots where water collects after rain.

Tufted Poppy is suited to USDA Zone 12a.

Plant container-grown or balled-and-burlapped shrubs in spring or early autumn, setting the root flare at soil level, and water well after planting.

Tufted Poppy can spread to about 1 ft (0.3 m) and reach about 1 ft (0 m) tall. Space plants about 1 ft (0.3 m) apart so mature crowns don't crowd each other, and plant at least half that distance from buildings, fences and paths.

Planning a row or hedge? Try the plant spacing calculator.

Prune Tufted Poppy while it is dormant in late winter: first remove dead, damaged and crossing branches, then thin lightly for shape.

If it flowers in spring, prune right after flowering instead so you don't remove next year's buds. Never take off more than about a quarter of the shrub in one year.

Tufted Poppy is frost-tender (hardy to USDA zone 12). In colder areas grow it in a container and move it to a bright, frost-free place before the first frost.

Tufted Poppy can be propagated through seeds. Similar propagation techniques also apply to california poppy plant care, which shares the same genus.

See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.

Tufted Poppy is susceptible to aphids, snails, slugs. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.

Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.

Tufted Poppy grows outdoors in USDA Zone 12a. It survives winters down to planting zone 12a. In cooler regions, grow Tufted Poppy as a houseplant or bring it indoors before the first frost.