California's state flower and the reason whole hillsides turn fluorescent orange after wet winters — a "superbloom" event that draws crowds (and unfortunately damages habitat when visitors trample beyond paths).

Also called: Gold Poppy, California Sunlight

Native status: Native; California state flower

§ Quick facts

SizeHeight 0.2–0.4 m; flowers 5–10 cm wide
WeightN/A
LifespanAnnual or short-lived perennial
OrderAsparagales
FamilyAsparagaceae

§ Encyclopedia

Eschscholzia californica, the California poppy, golden poppy, Mexican poppy, California sunlight or cup of gold, is a species of flowering plant in the family Papaveraceae, native to the United States and Mexico. It is cultivated as an ornamental plant flowering in summer, with showy flowers in brilliant shades of red, orange and yellow. It is also used as food or a garnish. It had various uses in indigenous herbalism. It became the official state flower of California in 1903.

Source: Wikipedia — Eschscholzia californica Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0

§ Identification

Field marks. Blue-green divided leaves; cup-shaped 4-petaled flowers.

Similar species. Mexican Gold Poppy. Iceland Poppy (multiple colors).

Voice. N/A

§ Diet & behavior

Diet. N/A — photosynthesis

Behavior. Native California wildflower famously carpets hillsides bright orange in spring.

§ Range

California through Oregon, Mexico; introduced widely as garden plant

§ Habitat

Open slopes, grasslands, roadsides, and chaparral edges

§ Threats

Habitat conversion, invasive grasses outcompeting natives, illegal harvest from wild populations, social-media-driven trampling.

§ Conservation status

According to the IUCN Red List, the california poppy is currently classified as Least Concern.

§ What helps

Stay on designated trails during superblooms. Plant native (not garden) California poppy. Support California state park funding.

Support our work More ways to help

§ Further reading

§ Sources cited

  • Theodore Payne Foundation
  • California Native Plant Society
  • iNaturalist