California Poppy (Eschscholzia californica) Login         


        Description
  • EW Bloom Apr - Jun
  • Height to 18".
  • Flowers have four large overlapping petals. They're orange most places, but usually yellow with an orange center along the coast.
  • CA native, and the state flower
  • Poppy Family (Papaveraceae)



Thin orange petals overlap each other. Notice the sheath covering the young bud. Petals close at night and open in the morning.



Leaves are grey-green and are much divided. The round flat base just below the petals is distinctive and edged in rose-pink.



Across the state, California Poppies fill grassy areas with an orange display from April to July.

   Photo Gallery (232 ) click any picture to enlarge
    

The iconic California Poppy, California's state flower, is widespread and easy to notice. Below the 4 orange petals are gray-green leaves divided int ...

FROM BUD TO SEED - notes by May Chen The two [[sepals]] of the California Poppy are completely fused together to form a pointed hood over the flowe ...

As the petals expand, the calyptra lifts off and falls away. The unfurled flower sits simply on a circular pink disk, the [[receptacle]], which persi ...

Look Ma, no [[sepals]]!

Petals curl up when the sun isn't out, and then unfurl when it is. Californios called this poppy "the sleepy one".