Have you ever watched the coils of an electric stove heat up and glow?  Here's nature's simulation.  Throw in some silken flower petals and set the color to flambé. The energy here is hot and spicy like looking into the mouth of a volcano.  What should we bring to sacrifice?!  Got anything drab and dreary?  Here we have the outstandingly opulence of Eschscholzia californica 'Mikado' commonly known as the Red California Poppy.  This has got to be, what I consider, one of the most beautiful wildflowers in the world.

Eschscholzia californica 'Mikado' is a red version of the California poppy.  The straight species, simply Eschscholzia californica, is a rich orange color.  I find Eschscholzia californica 'Mikado' to be in a class of beauty all its own.  There's something about its radiant red color with orange low lights that is absolutely magnificent!  This annual Californian wildflower is pretty easy to grow.  It's both heat and drought tolerant and tends to self sow for future displays of electrifying color. Plants tend to grow 6 - 12 inches tall and around 1 foot wide.  They outfit themselves in bluish grey-green, fern-like, frilly foliage.  Once flowers form they open with sunlight and remain closed when it's cloudy or overcast.  They also tend to look amazing when planted en masse giving us a California wildflower meadow vibe.

Eschscholzia californica 'Makido' like full sun, regular to average soils, and regular to low water.  Plant them via seed in autumn and in colder climes try spring.  Once they get growing and flowering you can expect blooms spring through summer.  They'll give you some gorgeous contrast between foliage and flower setting their flora on fire with a lavish electricity .