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California Poppy Seeds - Red Chief

Scarlet petals contrast beautifully with feathery blue-green foliage

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About the Variety

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

BOTANICAL NAME

Eschscholzia californica

LIFE CYCLE

  • Perennial

SEED TYPE

  • Open Pollinated Seed

LIGHT REQUIREMENT

  • Full Sun

BLOOM SEASON

  • Spring through Summer

GROWTH HABIT

  • Clumping
  • Upright

PLANT HEIGHT

  • Up to 16 inches

PLANT TYPE

  • Single
  • California

COLOR

  • Red

Red Chief Poppies are sure to command attention in your garden! Their bold red-orange hue will not be ignored! An excellent choice for hot and arid regions, California Poppies are hardy and easy to grow.

  • • Perennial / Annual; Showy flowers
  • • Easy to grow and adaptable
  • • Poppy seeds require a cool period of 2-4 weeks to break dormancy, and some gardeners choose to cold stratify their seeds.

Planting Information

PLANTING SEASON

  • Fall
  • Spring

SOWING METHOD

  • Direct Sow

PLANTING DEPTH

  • 1/16 inch

WATER NEEDS

  • Average

PLANT SPACING

  • 6 to 8 inches

HARDINESS ZONES

  • 8
  • 9
  • 10

SEED PREP

  • Requires Light
  • Stratification

COVERAGE

Amount Avg Seed Count Recommended Coverage
Packet 282 Up to 80 Sq. Ft
1 Ounce 20,421 Up to 625 Sq. Ft
1/4 Pound 81,684 Up to 2,500 Sq. Ft
1 Pound 326,736 Up to 10,000 Sq. Ft

Planting Guide

View our California Poppy Planting Guide to learn more.

Ready to Grow

We guarantee that our seeds & bulbs will be true to type and ready to thrive. If something doesn't grow as expected, we will make it right. Questions? Call us at 855-440-2929

All california poppy
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    California Poppy Seeds - Red Chief FAQs

    Is Red Chief California Poppy resistant to animals or disease?

    Red Chief California Poppy is deer resistant and rabbit resistant, meaning deer and rabbits generally avoid it due to its taste, texture, or aroma.

    Customer Reviews

    Overall rating: 1.0 / 5 from 3 reviews.

    Very Poor, only 2 seeds seem to be growing. Followed instructions regarding refrigeration prior to planting.

    George K. 1/5 Verified

    California Poppy Seeds - Red Chief

    Store owner replied: Hello George K. Thanks so much for your review! We greatly appreciate your feedback on this matter. We're always looking for ways to improve our products and will certainly take your information into account. If you ever have any other concerns or questions, feel free to reach out to us and we'll be happy to do all we can to assist. We're happy that we were able to come to a satisfactory resolution for you and look forward to continuing gardening with you!

    Why is this seed called Red Chief? Does it harken back to the O' Henry story "The Ransom of Red Chief"? I am keen to buy this seed but am worried this may be a racist name. Thank you for addressing my concern.

    Maggie 1/5

    California Poppy Seeds - Red Chief

    Store owner replied: Hello Maggie. Thank you for your review of Eden Brothers! The name Red Chief for this variety of California Poppy comes from its vibrant red coloration. Plant and seed varieties are often named to reflect their most distinctive traits, and in this case, "Red" highlights the flower's bold red hue, while "Chief" may suggest prominence or superiority among other varieties. There is no known connection between this name and O. Henry’s short story The Ransom of Red Chief. We completely understand and appreciate your thoughtful approach, in wanting more information, and hope this helps ease your concern. Thanks so much for taking the time to post this review! Once you get the chance to grow them, please reach back out and let us know your thoughts. We'd love to her back from you!

    Planted exactly as instructed, cold stratified for spring germination and I have nothing to show in return.

    Anna 1/5 Verified

    California Poppy Seeds - Red Chief

    Store owner replied: Hello, Anna Thank you for your review of Eden Brothers! We greatly appreciate you bringing this to our attention as feedback like yours helps us deliver the best quality products possible. After speaking with our Customer Service Team, it seems we were able to resolve this for you. If you have any other issues, feel free to reach out!

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