The Western Poppy is a native California wildflower that grows 1-2 feet tall with large, bright orange flowers resembling Iceland Poppies. It blooms in late spring and grows well in full sun to light shade with sandy or rocky, well-drained soil. The Western Poppy is drought tolerant after establishment and attracts birds and insects to its seeds. It makes an excellent addition to native plant gardens, containers, and pathways.

1. Western Poppy – Papaver californicum
(pap-AY-ver ka-li-FOR-ni-kum)
Family: Papaveraceae (Poppy Family)
Native to: Native to CA from San Francisco south. Locally in Santa Monica and San Gabriel Mtns. ;
disturbed places below 2500', in chaparral and oak woodland, often in areas recently burned.
annual wildflower
mature height: 1-2 ft.
mature width: 1-2 ft.
Herbaceous annual poppy with leaves mostly in basal rosette (typical for poppies). Foliage a
medium green, usually smooth.
Growth characteristics:
Blooms in late spring (usually Apr-May in the wild). Flowers are large (1+ inch
diameter), showy, bright orange – really impressive.
Reminiscent of ‘Iceland Poppies’ in
appearance. Really nice if you need a true orange accent. Seeds are little round poppy seeds.
Blooms/fruits:
Uses in the garden: Use as you would non-native poppies. Wonderful addition to mixed flower beds
or in a native wildflower ‘prairie/meadow’.
walkway or around native shrubs.
Show-stopping in containers.
Would be nice along a
Sensible substitute for: Non-native poppies (like ‘Iceland Poppies’)
Attracts: Seeds eaten by ground-feeding birds. Attracts interesting insects.
Requirements:
Element
Sun
Soil
Water
Fertilizer
Other
Requirement
Full sun to light shade.
Well-drained – likes sandy or rocky soil. Any local pH.
Needs good winter/spring moisture; taper off water after blooming.
Might benefit from ½ strength nitrogen fertilizer.
Use inorganic (rock/coarse sand) mulch or no mulch.
Management:
Plant is a fire-follower, so germination enhanced by charate or liquid smoke.
Propagation: from seed:
plant in winter, with rains. See above for pre-treatment.
Plant/seed sources (see list for source numbers): 16, 20
11/30/10
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