Description of varieties and cultivation of perennial Eschscholzia, planting and care

Eschscholzia beautifully decorate any place where it is grown. Flowers do not require special care, which allows even inexperienced gardeners to work with them. Perennial Eschscholzia flowers planted in a flowerbed look like small lakes with a surface swaying in the wind.

There are several types and varieties of this plant, among which the gardener can choose the most suitable option. In areas with cold winters, it is used as an annual plant due to its vulnerability to cold.

Description and features

Eschscholzia perennial is one of the species of the Poppy family. Its homeland is western North America. The plant came to the European continent in the 18th century. The perennial Eschscholzia has another name: “California poppy.” It is also called "wormwood" because the stems and leaves resemble wormwood.

Eschscholzia perennial is a perennial plant. It has a powerful taproot. Flowers have straight and branched shoots. Eschscholzia perennial grows up to 40 centimeters.

The stems have a ribbed structure and are dark green in color, along which foliage is attached on long petioles.

The flowers imitate bells in their design. They also look terry or regular. Flowering continues throughout the summer. A bud lives no more than four days, but new ones appear constantly.

In unfavorable weather and at night, the flowers close. You can admire them only during the daytime.

The perennial Eschscholzia flower is similar to a poppy. It can be white, yellow, orange and red. The petals are beautifully arranged in several tiers.

After pollination takes place, seed pods form within a month. They are oblong in shape and look like long, fleshy pods 7 centimeters long. The capsules contain small gray-brown elliptical seeds.

Features of sowing at different times

When sown in autumn, plants begin to bloom earlier than those planted in spring.

Autumn

Perennial Eschscholzia reproduces well by self-sowing. During the winter, the least quality seed material will die. In the spring, the most viable seeds will germinate.

Spring

The collected seeds are mixed with sand and placed in paper bags. Store in the refrigerator until spring. Sow as soon as the ground warms up.

Before winter

Seeds can be planted in open ground just before the onset of winter cold. At the first sign of warmth they will sprout and may begin blooming in May.

Growing seedlings at home

The use of seedlings is common in areas with cold climates. The difficulty is that the perennial Eschscholzia has a powerful root core, which can easily be damaged during transplantation. In connection with this circumstance, it is recommended to grow seedlings using peat tablets.

First, cold stratification of the seeds must be carried out within two weeks. At the beginning of March they are planted in peat tablets. They are placed in a container, which must be placed in a place with good lighting and a temperature of 20-22 degrees.

At the end of April, seedlings are hardened. The containers are taken outside for a short time in order to accustom the perennial Eschscholzia to the desired temperature. At the beginning of May, seedlings can be planted in open ground.

How to plant in open ground

You can plant these flowers with seeds or seedlings.

Soil preparation

Before planting perennial eschsolzia, the soil must be dug up. If you are going to grow flowers in heavy and clayey soil, you need to add peat and sand. For perennial eschscholzia, neutral or slightly acidic soil is best suited.

Too acidic soil must be mixed with dolomite flour or ash.

Selecting a location

Loose sandy loam soil is preferred for planting.For flowers it is important that the lighting is good.

Seed preparation

They are stratified by keeping them at temperatures up to 3 degrees Celsius for 1-1.5 months. If autumn sowing is carried out, this will be done automatically during the winter period. In this case, weak seeds die, and viable ones will be planted in the ground.

Planting scheme

For planting in the ground, grooves are made in which the seeds are placed. 2 cm of soil is poured on top. Mulching with peat is carried out. If planting was done in the fall, I cover the seeds with a layer of fallen leaves.

When planting seedlings, the root collar must be located on the surface of the soil.

The optimal distance between plants is 30 centimeters.

Care

Eschscholzia is a perennial plant that does not require much additional care. However, it is necessary to take care of it so that it pleases with luxurious flowering.

This plant may suffer from weed overgrowth. Therefore, it is necessary to monitor this and carry out weeding on time. For perennial Eschscholzia, regular loosening of the soil is beneficial. As a result of treatment, air penetrates better to the roots, and this contributes to improved growth and development.

If wilted flowers are found, cut them off.

Perennial Eschscholzia can tolerate high temperatures well, but has poor resistance to frost. It can only withstand short periods of freezing with temperatures down to 5 degrees below zero..

Because it does not tolerate cold well, it is often grown as an annual plant in temperate climates.

Watering

Eschscholzia is a perennial plant that loves moisture. Accordingly, it is necessary to provide it with punctual watering, the frequency of which will be regular from two to three times throughout the week.Moreover, you should monitor the total humidity and limit yourself to a moderate volume of liquid used for irrigation, so that there is no overflow. It is recommended to perform it in the evening, when it is not as hot as during the day.

Soddy Eschscholzia requires less moisture and tolerates dry weather well.

Top dressing

Fertilize several times a year. In summer, one or two fertilizing with mineral compounds is enough for flowering plants.

Diseases and pests

Perennial Eschscholzia is susceptible to attack by spider mites or bean aphids in hot, dry weather. An effective remedy against them is spraying with insecticides. For this we use:

• Aktara;
• Commander.

With excess moisture, powdery mildew or root rot develops. A sign of infection is the growth of small leaves that turn yellow. If a viral infection is detected, the plants are destroyed. If a fungal infection occurs, use fungicides.

Medicinal properties

This plant is known for its medicinal properties. The juice contains:

• flavonoids;
• coloring matter;
• alkaloids.

The above-ground part of the plant is used for production. It is cut during the period when flowering occurs, then dried.

Dyes are used to create cosmetics. Alkaloids can be used for medicinal purposes. They are used as sedatives and for pain relief. Alkaloids have an antispasmodic effect.

Gelatin tablets, liquid extracts, and alcohol settings are prepared from this plant.

The use of Eschscholzia perennial as a medicine is recognized in traditional medicine. It is known that lotions with this remedy can help with toothache.Eschscholzia perennial can be used to combat insomnia. It is prescribed to children as a remedy for enuresis.

There are contraindications for the use of medicines made from this plant. They are not recommended to be taken:

• pregnant women;
• nursing mothers;
• for those who have a long-term allergy to Eschscholzia.

Children are advised to use such medications only as prescribed by a doctor. If an activity requires increased concentration, the use of a product based on this plant should be limited.

Collection and storage of seeds

In order to collect seeds, you need to wait until the seed pods appear on the plant. It is recommended to place them, without tearing them off, in a gauze bag and wait for 4 weeks until they are completely dry.

Then they are torn off and carefully poured onto a piece of paper. They are dried and poured into paper bags. It is recommended to store seeds on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator. They do not lose their viability for three years.

Kinds

There are 12 types of Eschsolzia. The most common are 2 of them.

Californian

This plant has thin and branched shoots. Dark green lacy leaves are covered with a bluish coating. The plant grows up to 40 centimeters. Some shoots lie on the ground.

The plant has cup-shaped bright orange flowers with a diameter of 9 centimeters. Flowering begins in mid-June and continues until the end of autumn and the onset of winter cold.

Soddy

This is an annual species. It has a compact size. The height of the plant is 15-29 centimeters. The leaves are openwork, collected in basal rosettes. Simple flowers with a diameter of 3 centimeters grow on bare stems. Flowering begins in June.

Lobby

The flowers are pale yellow.The diameter is 2 centimeters. The height of the bushes does not exceed 20 centimeters.

Terry

This species has double flowers in white, cream, pink or carmine. The edges of the petals can be jagged or smooth. This species is unpretentious, drought-resistant, and usually reproduces by self-sowing.

Popular varieties

Apricot chiffon

Perennial Eschscholzia bushes are covered with creamy apricot flowers. They grow to a height of 35-40 centimeters. The flowers of this variety are double with corrugated petals.

Golden glory

Large simple yellow flowers with an orange center.

Orange King

Has bright orange inflorescences. The diameter of the flower is 5-8 centimeters. Blooms from June to October.

Mikado

This variety belongs to the Californian Eschsolzia. It has bright yellow flowers with an orange center and is 7 centimeters in diameter.

Karminkoenig

Simple flowers are dark carmine in color.

Strawberry fields

This variety has semi-double, scarlet flowers with a yellowish center.

Fruity explosion

The name of the flowers comes from the combination of bright, rich colors of yellow and crimson; their shape can be wide and folded.

Apple tree flowers

The varietal species is distinguished by increased color of large inflorescences. Their color is pink, but has a bright tint at the edges and a pale tint in the middle.

Ballerina

The perennial Eschscholzia has double bright flowers with a diameter of 15 centimeters. They may be yellow, pink or orange in color. Leaves, cut three times, have a waxy coating.

This plant is beautiful and there are no particular difficulties in growing it. For these and other reasons, the delicate and delicate flowers of Eschscholzia attract many people.