Windpoppy

Planting

Plant windpoppy in partial shade with fast-draining soil - it's adaptable to various soil types but demands good drainage. You can plant it in fall or early spring to take advantage of the Bay Area's natural winter and spring moisture. Space plants about 12–18 inches apart, and consider placing them under oak trees where they thrive as understory plants, or in foothill-style gardens that mimic their native Sierra and Coast Range habitat.

After Planting

Water young plants regularly through their first growing season, then taper off once established - by summer of year two, you should only need to water them a maximum of twice per month. Windpoppy is an annual that flowers in spring (March through May), so expect it to decline as temperatures warm; this is normal dormancy, not a sign of failure. The biggest mistake is overwatering: this plant evolved in dry foothill areas, so err on the side of dry soil rather than wet.

Insects

higHoney bee

Nectar · Spring

Spring wildflower foraging for colony nutrition

higYellow-faced bumblebee

Nectar · Spring

Early spring foraging during post-winter emergence

modOblique hover fly

Pollen · Spring

Adult flies visit flowers for pollen and nectar in early spring bloom period

modThick-headed Flies

Pollen · Spring

Adults forage on pollen during flowering period

Birds

modSprague's pipit

Seeds · Fall

Migrant seed consumption during fall passage through California grasslands

modWrentit

Seeds · Year-Round

Year-round resident utilizing seed resources in chaparral and coastal sage scrub habitats

Mammals

modWestern Harvest Mouse

Seeds · Fall

Seed collection and caching for winter stores September-November