Eschscholzia lobbii
An endemic California annual poppy in the Papaveraceae, with bright yellow to orange petals, a single flower on an erect stem, and a 3–7 cm long capsule of tiny brown seeds, blooming February through May in grassland, forest, rocky, riparian, and disturbed habitats.
Common Names
Frying Pans, Lobb's Goldenpoppy
Summary
Frying-pans is a California-endemic annual herb forming a small, erect plant with glabrous blue-green foliage and basal, segmented leaves. Erect stems reach about 5–15 cm tall and bear a single yellow flower with petals 7–12 mm long. Blooms occur from March to May, followed by a capsule 3–7 cm long containing tiny brown seeds.
It grows in sandy, well-drained, nutrient-poor soils in full sun and shows high drought tolerance with very low moisture needs; it suits dry gardens and rock gardens and can reseed readily. Propagation is by seed, and the plant is used in Central Valley meadows and similar native plantings, supporting pollinators through its pollen.
Lifecycle
Annual
Height
2-6 inches
Spread
6-12 inches
Hardiness Zones
Zones 1-11
Sunlight Requirements
Ideally full sun.
Soil Type
Well-drained soil
Soil Drainage
Excellent drainage.
Soil pH
6.0-7.5, Slightly acidic to neutral
Bloom Color
Yellow to orange
Bloom Time
Spring
Foliage Color
Blue-green
Fall Foliage Color
Yellow
Growth Rate
Annual
Seasons of Interest
Spring
Propagation Methods
Seeds (self-sowing); may reseed if happy.
Attracts Wildlife
Bees: yes, Butterflies: yes, Birds: yes
Taxonomy
- Taxonomic Rank
- Species
- Author
- Greene
- Publication
- Pittonia 5: 290 (1905)
Superior Taxa
- Kingdom
- Plantae
- Subkingdom
- Pteridobiotina
- Phylum
- Angiosperms
- Order
- Ranunculales
- Family
- Papaveraceae
- Subfamily
- Papaveroideae
- Tribe
- Eschscholtzieae
- Genus
- Eschscholzia
Synonyms
Eschscholzia graminea Eschscholzia pulchella Eschscholzia unguiculata