Eschscholzia californica
California
poppy
This plant is difficult to place in terms of
planetary rulership, but a good argument can be
made for
Mercury's
influence, since its active alkaloids affect the
mind and since its leaves are finely divided. This
magick herb is in the poppy family, and like its
siblings, it is sedating and has been used for dye
or for food coloring. The orange flowers are
familiar to people in the western US, but this
plant's blooms can also be purple, yellow, or
cream. Women of the Cahuilla Indians used the
pollen for a cosmetic and the whole plant as a
sedative for babies. The Luiseno Indians chew the
flowers with chewing gum, and several Native
American tribes traditionally ate the leaves as
greens, yet pregnant women of one tribe avoided even
the scent of this poppy as poisonous.
Visit the somewhat technical California Poppy
Homepage
How to grow
California
poppies.
A very handsome plant that is easy to grow. Plant
this annual in the fall if you have mild winters
(Deep South or Pacific Northwest) and in the
spring, at the same time as radishes, if you have
cold winters. Direct sow (plant in the soil where
they are to grow rather than in pots) because they
have a long taproot. Mix with sand and broadcast
(throw) the seed/sand on the cultivated bed you're
going to use. Cover with 1/4" of soil (or simply
water with a medium spray--mud will cover most of
seeds). Germinates in 2-3 weeks at 60-65 F. After
the first true leaves appear (the second set of
leaves appear. You can also start these in pots,
though, and in that case start them 2-3 weeks
before the last frost in your area. Sow in peat
pots, cover lightly, and bottom water (pour water
in the tray rather than in the pot). Transplant
outside to sunny place with poor soil to 6" apart.
Deadhead (pick off dead flowers) and don't water
too much or give much fertilizer--this plant likes
dry, cool weather and poor soil. If summer nights
are hot where you are, it will not get as many
flowers.
General
growing info
T
op
Uses in Witchcraft & Magick:
Honoring Hermes
Mercury Herb