California poppy

California poppy, (Eschscholzia californica), annual plant of the poppy family (Papaveraceae), native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. It has become naturalized in parts of southern Europe, Asia, and Australia. Depending on conditions, California poppies flower from February to September in their native range. The hardy seeds can persist in soil seed banks until growing conditions are favorable, and the plants sometimes emerge en masse to create “super bloom” events.

Physical description

California poppies have feathery gray-green foliage. The four-petaled flowers, borne on stems 20 to 30 cm (8 to 12 inches) long, are usually pale yellow, orange, or cream in the wild, but cultivated varieties are available in whites and various shades of red and pink. Horticultural varieties include tall, dwarf, double, and single forms. The ephemeral flowers open only in sunlight and produce narrow capsule fruits. The seeds are round and black or brown in color.