Honest review: California Poppy is rewarding but rabbits and slugs targeting young seedlings is real

California Poppy is a genuinely satisfying plant to grow, but I want to be upfront about one thing: rabbits and slugs targeting young seedlings. I've dealt with it twice now and it takes consistent attention to manage.

Beyond that, self-seeding and naturalising without annual replanting makes it one of my favourites in the collection. I keep it in a container with a meadow mix for a balcony which suits it well. Learning about sowing directly into poor soil as rich soil encourages weeds has been essential. peak flowering from early to midsummer is worth waiting for — the plant really justifies itself then. Four stars because of that persistent issue.