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Arizona poppy identification and care in USA

Even Arizona poppy doesn't belong to the poppy plant family but still, they have some behavior like poppy plants. Originally, The Arizona poppy is a wildflower that likes warm climate conditions and can handle some dry conditions. 

Arizona poppy needs different steps to care for in different seasons throughout its annual life cycle. Let's understand Arizona poppy care step by step. 

Arizona poppy care

Even with the least care in the basic growth period, Arizona poppy flowers need a proper eye at some stage. 

Arizona poppy care in USA

Don't worry I'm here to make things easier and simple for you from starting care to the flower blooming caring tips.

Identification of Arizona poppy

  • Scientific name- Kallstroemia grandiflora
  • Nature- Expanding nearby 
  • Color- Leaves green, flowers dark yellow
  • Plant type- Wildflower
  • Size- 1.5 ft to 3.5 ft tall, wide up to 2 ft
  • Shape- Leaves grow a gap on the same stem as tamarind leaves, the flower is too bigger than the leaves.
  • Flowers- One on each plant with an orange mid portion

Before starting

Let me clear your doubt first about the Arizona poppy plant. Arizona poppy plants are very good to have in empty areas of your garden. 

Following are the basic things you should be aware of and informed about the Arizona poppy while growing in your gardens or empty areas-

  • Arizona poppy grows well in moderate temperatures.
  • You shouldn't grow them in small pots. Though, keeping them in pots for initial growth(from seeding to the transplantation stage), is not a bad idea. 
  • An Arizona plant can grow 1.5 feet to 3.5 feet in some areas. So providing them with bigger space is always important even in small gardens. 
  • One plant can have only a flower bloom at a time. 
  • Too hot temperatures are bad for mid-growth in summer. Above 92 F is not ideal for Arizona poppy plants. 
  • Snowfall regions are also bad or too cold at night will be non-habitable for the Arizona poppy. 
  • These poppy plants don't like over-irrigation or over-fertilization on ordinary days. Simply don't want to feel sudden change or boost in growth. 

Summer care of Arizona poppy

Summer season is the only time when you need a proper eye on these Arizona wildflowers. 

Though I mentioned that they can grow in hot climates(at a limit) but it is important to check the soil moisture, fertilization, and other small weeds. 

These Arizona poppies don't get any serious fungal infection or disease but taking prevention is not a thing to ignore. 

In the summer season, you can follow these tips to take care of your Arizona poppy- 

  • In early summer

In early summer, if seeds sprouted completely, then it is always better to keep the moisture in the soil with proper drainage management. 

No fertilization is required if you prepared a soil mixture(with organic compost, soil, and sand). 

No weeding is required or any other disturbance till they turn into young plants. 

  • In mid-summer

Till mid-summer, these young plants become ready to transplant so you need to fertilize the garden soil. Make it moist for quality growth and keep your eye on the soil moisture on daily basis. 

Although Arizona poppy can grow better in moderate temperatures(70F to 85F). 

You can fertilize once in an entire summer at this time. It will help later at the time of flowering. Always use organic compost fertilizer or vermicompost for wildflowers. 

  • In late summer

In late summer, there is no requirement for fertilization or regular irrigation if rain is enough in your area. Overcast weather also helps to ignore irrigation on the daily basis. 

In late summer, the temperature starts to fall and humidity starts to increase, hence you don't need to care about your Arizona poppy garden plants. 

This is the time when each plant will start to produce buds and these buds will turn into flowers in the next few weeks. 

Fall care of Arizona poppy

In fall, buds start to appear on the Arizona poppy plants and the flower will bloom later. Till the end of fall, plants start to get dry and turn brown. 

  • In early fall

If your plants are not disturbed till now(from disaster, lack of fertilization, or moisture) then buds will start to turn into flowers on the plants in starting weeks of fall. 

  • In mid fall

These dark yellow flowers bloom for the next few days. Providing some moisture helps them to peak their blooming. 

No fertilizers or growth boosters are required at this stage. Keep things simple and enjoy the blooming in your garden like other wildflowers you have. 

  • In late fall

No requirement for any irrigation, fertilization, weeding, or any other special regular care in late fall. 

Winter care of Arizona poppy

In warm climates, Arizona poppy plants start to dry from the end of the fall. There is no point in caring for dead plants in winter whether it is a wildflower or it is Arizona poppy. Being an annual plant, every Arizona poppy plant completes its life cycle every year till the mid-winter season. 

You can just do one thing in winter that is related to these plants. Clean the area after its lifecycle is complete properly.

Season of growing

Mid-spring to the first week of the summer season is the best time to plant seeds of Arizona poppy. Any other season to grow will bring some disadvantages with it. For example, in mid to late summer, Arizona poppy sprouting takes too much time and moisture in the soil. Even after proper care, these poppy plants don't perform average for the rest of the year. Being late in the growing season, its flowers die before blooming or don't bloom till the end of fall. 

If you plant seeds in the fall, plants don't have time left for growth and flower blooming because in winter they get damaged all the time with too cold conditions. 

At the time of seeding either in pots or ground, the temperature should be rising and above 60 F. Soil moisture should be enough and humidity shouldn't be more than 20%. 

Arizona poppy can grow in general types of soil but having compacted soil is not good for Arizona poppy. It grows better in sandy, moist, and well-drainage soil in gardens or pots. 

How long does it take to grow an Arizona poppy?

Like every wildflower, the Arizona poppy has similar growing stages. I've settled data for you in an easier way- 

  • From seeding to sprouting- 2 to 3 weeks
  • Sprouting to transplantation- Next 2 weeks
  • Transplantation to buds- 5 to 7 weeks
  • Buds to flower blooming- Next 2 weeks

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