Has anyone had success growing Oriental Poppies in Southern California? I know they're fairly easy in places where they get a winter chill and nice weather in the summer (not 100+ and no rain June to November). I have been gifted with 3 6-packs of seedlings and I would like to give them a fighting chance. They will be irrigated regularly and fed at least occasionally, what I need to know is sun exposure here and frequency of watering. Any input is greatly appreciated!

No, never have.

Oh, darn!! I was hoping YOU would be the one that tried. Well, I guess I'll just keep waiting. It's not like I can do any planting right now anyway, what with the pouring rain and all.

I love them and tried them many many times. I finally gave up. They are gorgeous. I got them in London once. They need cold weather.

CalPolygardener, I believe "Little Poppy Mama" on YouTube grew some OP in here garden in CA before recently buying land in MO. She might have some answers. My suggestion would be to try and grow them on the north side of the house if possible.

Well, they're planted. I bit the bullet and put them on the North side of a 3-story building with a slotted roof. Some are out where they will get more sun and some are closer to the building. I'll let you know what happens. Keep your fingers crossed.

Well, the results are in! 3 plants have made it through the summer so far. This next week is also supposed to be in the 100s, so we'll see what happens. I'm off work until November, I'll report back then.

John we will be looking forward to your report

I can't even get them to thrive in my zone 7 garden! Two years I've failed. I'll give them a last go next spring then Im throwing in the towel. I love poppies!

Hiyamakki on your poppy endeavor. They don't take transplanting well. If they survive the first winter they are good.

I saw them at Stanford Shopping Mall in Palo Alto, CA, I think that's zone 9. It was grown in container, I suspect they came from somewhere.

I was off work for all of October and when I got back, between a couple more heatwaves and Round-up 2 more have disappeared. The 1 that's left is looking pretty good. We'll see how it goes. One thing this has shown me is that it can be done if they get some shade. The soil they're in is fairly heavy clay which I hear is okay, but I'm glad they're on a slope. The other thing I have noticed is that bunnies and sowbugs like them too.

CPG don't give up now !

We're planting some manzanitas in that area next week and I'll let the lead know about my babies so they get a little protection.

And yet, it still got pulled. I try and try but still it comes to naught. Maybe I'll try again next Spring. I guess even more communication and maybe some kind of markers. It's just hard to leave a flag or something real obvious in the middle of an institutional landscape and not have it look weird.