California Poppy Seeds – Thai Silk Strawberry Fields

About the Variety

Pleated crepe-paper petals in scarlet edge around a glowing golden base in this newest member of the Thai Silk series. California Poppy Thai Silk Strawberry Fields is yet another beautiful California poppy, it might be time to start a collection! Planted at the front of the garden, or in swaths along pathways, this demure beauty will remain just eight inches tall. It is a sun lover, of course, and is drought tolerant once established, attracting pollinators to otherwise dry areas of the garden.

Key Features

Frost Tolerant, Heat Tolerant, Drought Tolerant, Prefers Lean Soil, Container Friendly, Attracts Bees, Attracts Butterflies, Fast Growing, Easy to Grow, Perfect for Borders, Perfect for Xeriscaping, Medicinal, Reduces Erosion, Deer Resistant, Rabbit Resistant

Plant Details

Planting Information

Planting Guide

When to Plant

We highly recommend sowing seeds directly in the garden at the last spring frost date, but if necessary to start your seeds indoors, do so 2-3 weeks prior to the last frost. California Poppies do not like their roots disturbed and therefore should not be transplanted.

Where to Plant

California Poppies perform best in full sun, in sandy, poor to average, well-drained soils. They are heat and drought tolerant and are lovely additions to beds and borders, containers, rock gardens, and along paths or walkways.

How to Plant

Poppy seeds require a special 2 week treatment called cold stratification prior to planting them. Learn how to cold stratify your seed here. Poppy seeds require light to germinate, so be careful not to cover them when planting. Learn more about germination light requirements here. These poppies germinate most successfully in cool to moderate temperatures and they are, in fact, frost tolerant. Poppies flower best under cool spring weather conditions. Bloom decreases on poppies as temperatures increase in summer months. If needed, add 2″ of compost to your soil to promote drainage. Sow seeds shallowly with just 1/16″ layer of soil to cover them, spaced about 6-8″ apart.

How to Care for

Seedlings should sprout in 14-21 days. Thin seedlings to about 8″” apart. Poppies should be watered regularly, but they can tolerate dry conditions. It is not necessary to fertilize poppies. It generally takes about 60 to 90 days for poppies to bloom after the seed is planted. This timing depends very much on your growing zone and when you plant, along with Mother Nature’s cooperation. The bloom season for poppies is spring to summer. Poppy plants will bloom for a few weeks, but the length of bloom time can be extended by regular watering and application of mulch for moisture retention, as well as regular deadheading of spent flowers. It is also recommended that the seed be sown in successive plantings to extend the bloom season of the poppies. How to Plant & Grow California Poppies- Video Tutorial