California Poppy

Eschscholzia californica

California Poppy is native to the western to southwestern United States, and northern Mexico.⁶ It has been introduced in Canada, Hawaii, and Alaska, and can be found on every continent except Antartica.⁵ The Eschscholzia genus has 11 species, including the California Poppy used in herbalism.¹⁴

This wildflower is found mostly in coastal states or just inland on the continents in coastal dunes, arid plains, redwood forest open slopes, desert fringes, and inland valleys below 7000 feet elevation.^6,14 The plant grows in temperate biomes and grassy meadows, and can tolerate living by water with conditions of sandy soil, wind, and salt in the air.^6,7

While normally an annual, if the climate of its growing location is warm and moist, it can be a short-lived perennial.^5,8 Perennials can flower in the first year of growth.¹⁴ The plant prefers soil conditions that are moist to dry with fine to medium textured soils with no salt, and can thrive with little nutrients.^5,7 It is a mid-level drought-tolerant plant, with a medium tolerance for part shade but a strong preference for full sun.⁵

The herb’s active growth period occurs in spring, summer, and fall.⁵ The sunny flowers bloom starting in late spring, but with steady rain, California Poppy has been known to flower from July to September.^5,7,8 Californian spring rains create vibrant explosions of color on the hillsides, with other wildflowers blooming alongside the orange California Poppy, including white to pinkish-purple Clovers (Trifolium spp.), white to pink Fringe Pods (Thysanocarpus sp.), white to yellow Lomatium (Lomatium sp.), white Yarrow (Achillea millefolium), fuchsia Indian Warrior (Pedicularis densiflora), and shades of purple and blue Lupine (Lupinus spp.).⁸

Copious amounts of seeds mature in the summer, from August to September.^5,7 When it has reached maturity, the seed pod explodes, throwing seeds up to 6 feet, which aid in the herb's self-seeding propagation.^5,7,14

The California Poppy plant has some distinctive botanical characteristics. One is a pointed green bud (shaped like a dunce hat) that is shed to reveal the cup-shaped orange flower. The second is a bright pink ring, called a torus ring, that forms around the base of the flower.¹⁴

Not specific only to California Poppy, but an interesting fact is that this plant is nyctinastic, meaning it closes its petals in the rain, on cloudy days, and when the sun goes down.⁷ This makes the flower heads look “sleepy” and as if they put themselves to bed in bad weather.⁷

This plant provides food for 2-5% of small mammals and terrestrial birds.⁵ It also provides nesting sites and shelter to birds.¹³ California Poppy is known for attracting wildlife, is pollinated by bees, and is recommended for wildflower meadow gardens.^7,13 There is a chance that this plant may be toxic to livestock and should potentially be cleared from grazing areas.¹⁴

This species is routinely available commercially, is commonly stocked at nurseries, and has been in the horticulture trade for 150 to 200 years as a vital plant in the garden on multiple continents.^5,14 Known for being a fast grower, it can be planted in containers or directly in your garden soil in hardiness zones of 6-11.^5,7 Though considered an annual, it has been known to survive in winter temperatures up to -10°F and often lives through mild cold seasons.⁷

California Poppy’s early global distribution is thought to be the result of more international travel, the popularity of gardening in the Victorian era, and the worldwide extent of European influence.¹⁴ In 1826, an English collector named David Douglas gathered seeds from a stand in southern Oregon and brought them to the Royal Botanical Society of England after hearing them described ten years prior by German poet and botanist Adelbert von Chamisso.¹⁴ Now, this plant is a common garden escapee in Britain that has also potentially created wild stands in their northwestern and southern mountains.^7,8 In Britain, it is also often found ornamentally in gardens and is quite versatile, planted either on a rock wall, in containers, or even as a border plant around the home.⁷

When growing this plant, it’s best to direct sow the seeds in fall and barely cover them with soil.^7,14 Enjoy an earlier bloom if sown in the middle of spring, and for later blooms, sow in late summer or early fall.⁷ Be mindful of frost dates and provide protection to young plants if you live in a slightly colder climate.⁷ Germination of the seed typically occurs 2 to 3 weeks after sowing.⁷ Transplantation is not recommended unless it is a very young plant.¹⁴ Before the plant goes to seed, deadheading the flowers can encourage the plant to flower for longer in the season.⁷ Be careful when tending to the garden around California Poppy plants if they have gone to seed, as they readily self-sow their seeds if the soil around them is disrupted.⁷

It is said that the best time to harvest the whole plant is when it is in full bloom and in its green seed pod stage; it can be used fresh or dried for later use.^3,7,8 California Poppy has had over thirty phytochemicals isolated from it, many individual to this herb.¹⁴ It has been said that the roots generally contain more alkaloids, whereas the flowers are richer in carotenoids.¹⁴ Older plants harvested later in the season are said to have lower alkaloid content.⁹ Since this plant is delicate and quickly degrades from the sun, be sure to store the dried herb in an airtight, dark container away from sunlight.⁸

For areas that commonly have wildfires in California, this plant is grown in zone 2 (the second zone from the structure) of these areas as firebreaks as it is a low-lying perennial cover that does not fuel the fire unless wood from trees or other sources are present as a fuel source.⁷ The state also uses the seeds in restoration plans, roadside cultivation, and erosion control mixes.¹⁴

Though in the same family as the Opium Poppy, this species of Poppy has a distinct set of alkaloids and is not a narcotic, but a mild relaxant.^3,8 However, since alkaloids are common in the Papaveraceae family, the phytochemicals in California Poppy are similar enough to opiates to potentially cause a false positive in urine tests.⁸*

In 1903, this species was named the state flower of California, the “Golden State.” It is thought to represent the “fields of gold” during the time of the gold rush, with its orange flowers spotting throughout the landscape where mines were present.¹¹

California Poppy has a variety of ethnobotanical uses within Native American cultures. The Neeshenam tribe were known to boil or roast the greens of the plant to eat, while the Mendocino and Luiseno natives also used the leaves as food.² The Luiseno were also known to add the somewhat sweet flowers to their chewing gum as a candy, while the Cahuilla used the bright orange pollen in their face and body painting as a decorative cosmetic.^2,14 It was also used widely in herbalism, as an insecticide, and for stupefaction while hunting by the Costanoan, Kawaiisu, Mahuna, and Pomo tribes.²

This herb is so gentle that it is often used by parents around the world today to help their children relax at bedtime.³ Traditionally, the Costanoan Native Americans were known to place the flowers under children's beds at bedtime.² In Columbia, this non-native herb is called Campanilla, Rasete, or Raso, and has been introduced in the Andean region at altitudes of 2600 to 2800 meters above sea level.⁶ There the plant is used in herbalism, as food, and for environmental uses.⁶

According to traditional western herbalism history, during Eclectic times, the pharmacists in the dispensatories knew about this herb, but it was not often used.¹²

1. McGuffin M, Kartesz J. American Herbal Products Association’s Herbs of Commerce, 3rd ed. Silver Springs, MD: Publication of the American Herbal Products Association; 2023.
2. Native American Ethnobotany DB. 2003-2018. Native American Ethnobotany Database: Eschscholzia californica. (NAEB, Accessed 3 Apr 2025). Dearborn, MI 48198 USA
3. Tilgner S. Herbal Medicine from the Heart of the Earth, 2nd ed. Pleasant Hill, OR: Wise Acres LLC; 2009
4. Skenderi, G. (2003). Herbal Vade Mecum. Rutherford, NJ: Herbacy Press.
5. United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service. 2018. The PLANTS Database: Eschscholzia californica. (PLANTS Database, 3 Apr 2025). National Plant Data Team, Greensboro, NC 27401-4901 USA.
6. Kew Royal Botanic Gardens. Plants of the World Online: Eschscholzia californica. (POWO Accessed 4 Apr 2025).
7. Plants for a Future. 1996-2012. Plants for a Future Database: Eschscholzia californica (PAFA Accessed 3 Apr 2025). Devon EX7 9LX England.
8. Moore M. (2011). Medicinal Plants of the Pacific West. Sante Fe, NM: Museum of New Mexico Press.
9. Moore M. (2003). Medicinal Plants of the Mountain West. Sante Fe, NM: Museum of New Mexico Press.
10. Ganora L. (2009). Herbal Constituents: Foundations of Phytochemistry. Lisa Ganora Press.
11. California Department of Fish and Wildlife. (2025). “California Poppy”.
12. Remington J., Woods H., et al. Dispensatory of the United States of America. Philadelphia, PA: Grig & Elliot. 1918: 27.
13. Oregon State University Extension Service. 1995-2024. Eschscholzia californica. (OSU, Accessed 5 Apr 2025.) Corvallis, OR 97331.
14. United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service. 2018. “Plant Guide: California Poppy.”