Poppies sure pop out in spring! Depending on where you live in the Southwest there can be spectacular displays of blooms!  Want some of this beauty in your yard? The time to start is months before the flowers appear. Basically you have to plant in fall for spring display.

I am launching an entire class on the topic of easy to grow Southwest Spring Wildflowers for your yard. But if you want only pretty poppies, here are the cliff notes.

Buy the Right Poppies

Growing the flowers that are native to your specific region helps protect the biodiversity that native insects and wildlife species depend on. Also, plants native to the region help give your yard that all important “sense of place.”

California poppies (Eschscholzia californica) are wonderful for the soils, temperatures, and rainfall of the Mojave Desert.

Where is the Mojave (or Mohave) Desert? Think Eastern California, Yuma, and up around Las Vegas. It also includes Baja California, in Mexico. The Phoenix area is on the edge of the Mojave Desert.

Arizona Poppies (Eschscholzia mexicana) are ideal for the soils, temperatures, and rainfall of the Sonoran Desert.

The Sonoran Desert is named for the Mexican state of Sonora, and extends through much of southern Arizona. The Phoenix area is on the edge of the Sonoran Desert.

Other desert poppies? There are around 20 different species but it is hard to purchase seed of most of them.

In the Chihuahuan Desert (New Mexico, Texas, Chihuahua) there are a number of poppies that may pop up – but generally not in massive carpets. This desert gets primarily summer rains, but still can have enough winter rains that the Arizona poppies (Eschscholzia mexicana) will grow. Except of course in states other than Arizona their common name has been changed to Mexican poppy.

Science Nerd Shares

Note that there is some literature on the interweb that says these poppies are subspecies not true species.  A recent 2021 study concluded that these different poppies do not readily produce viable offspring, indicating that there are enough genetic differences to delineate them as true species.

How to Grow Southwest Poppies

First of all – you need to know that they are best grown from seed right where you want them to grow. This because these annual poppies have a tap root and do not take kindly to transplanting.

Light.

They need a minimum of six hours of winter sunlight a day.  Too little light and they will not bloom well.

Soil.

Well drained soils are best. You find the poppies growing in sandy and even volcanic areas, but never in dense heavy clay soils.

Plant.

Basically you need to rake the soil, scatter the seed, then rake it in.

It is a tad more involved than this – thus my free video series on 5 Steps to Spring Wildflowers.

Water.

Yep. They poppies are a desert adapted plant – but they need ample water to grow and bloom. For those “super-bloom” years there was rain nearly every 10 to 12 days. You will be the one to provide the water if the sky doesn’t do so. I just plan on watering the growing plants every Saturday morning. That way I don’t forget.

Getting seeds to grow into plants – they will need more than just weekly watering. Keep the soil “evenly moist” during germination, which can take two to three weeks. This means every day. Be sure you plant your poppies somewhere your hose will reach, or get yourself a watering can and give your biceps a daily workout.

Be Gentle with Water!

Little seeds need some time to settle in and grow and not get tumbled around. Winter rains are slow and gentle and you need to be that way too. I have a watering wand that delivers a gentle rain-like sprinkle.

Gravel Mulch and/or an HOA?

There are a number of work-arounds if you have an HOA. Let me again refer you to my free video series:

5 Steps to Spring Wildflowers.

Poppies in Containers?

Sure. These native poppies can be grown in containers! But. But you should plan to leave them in the container you plant them in – because they do not transplant well. Use a container at least 12 inches deep. How wide a pot? Depends on the species you will grow. California poppy tends to get about a foot around, while Arizona poppy is not so big, maybe 8 to 10 inches. They don’t mind some crowding, but not too close.

In the container I use “cactus mix” potting soil because poppies preform perfectly in well-drained soils.

Pests and Disease

Southwest poppies are not bothered by many pests or diseases.This is another reason for not crowding them in containers.  Good with flow helps keep them healthy.

Indeed, most wildlife do not eat the plants. Quail may eat the petals though, which annoys me – but my neighbor has a quail block so they mostly stick around that richer food source.

Thanks for reading,

Jacqueline

Spring Wildflowers for the Southwest – class with videos, several guides, and the 5 steps guide.  Discount coupon mailed to all Substack newsletter members.  Sign up for my free newsletter today if you haven’t yet.

5 Steps to Spring Wildflowers – free video series and downloadable guide

More Flower Care Tips – pages of them!

The Month By Month Guide offers tips for all of your landscape in every month of the year.  I have a few copies left and am offering them to you – my loyal readers. When you buy from me you get a signed copy!

From the review:

“A great reference book is key to successful gardening in the region where you live. Arizona, Nevada & New Mexico Month-by-Month Gardening takes the guesswork out of gardening for anyone residing in the Southwest. With this book, you’ll know what to do each month to enjoy a thriving garden all year, from January to December. Chronologically organized, this guide is full of critical gardening when-to and how-to advice, along with illustrated step-by-step instructions.

The book’s author is Jacqueline Soule, a Tucson-based gardening expert. She knows this arid region inside and out, and she’s written several articles and books packed with her gardening advice. Arizona, Nevada & New Mexico Month-by-Month Gardening showcases Soule’s expertise in one easy-to-read guide.”

Profits from the sale of this book go to the Horticulture Therapy non-profit Tierra del Sol Institute.   Recent price increase, due to the US Postal Service price increase in July 2024.  It is now $30.

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Be sure to ask questions if you have them! I do all this writing and blogging and posting on social media so that you will succeed with your garden goals!

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