Matilija poppies growing planting potting in San Diego California with Growing San Diego

Matilija poppy or Romneya coulteri is a favorite California native garden flower in our yard. I’ve seen them thriving in the coastal and chaparral regions of San Diego California and I’ve seen them adding brilliant splashes of white in residential landscapes where Silicon Valley meets the Redwoods. For years I’ve struggled with propagating them, so it was time to visit the neighbors and get a quick lesson from theirs years of success. After learning from them we decided spontaneously to make a quick video and share it! Some quick tips: 1. We encourage you to take the time to delicately dig up the baby shoots with lots of roots. 2. Quickly plant in a container that has similar soil to where it came from. 3. Water thoroughly and slowly, they need the water to push out the trapped air and create a “dirt to root bond”. 4. Let them rest and rejuvenate in a semi-shaded area that doesn’t get too hot, warm a bit during the day but mostly shady. 5. Once you see the green leaves perk up and signs of new growth, carefully plant them in the ground. 6. Keep it simple, hole the size of the planting pot, place plant and it’s dirt into hole, pushed down soil around plant. Don’t mound dirt around base. 6. Water them slowly and well to saturate the soil which will push out any air in the soil near the roots. 7. Try to plant them at a temperament time, not too hot, not too cold. Don’t use fertilizer! 8. Remember they are natives and like other natives around. Keep growing!