Arctomecon merriamii
White bear poppy, White Bear Poppy, white bear poppy, white bear poppy
(c) Matt Berger, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Matt Berger · licence
Family: Papaveraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 2B.2
Arctomecon merriamii (White bear poppy) is a native California herb in the Papaveraceae family, recognized by Only Arctomecon in CA - a desert-adapted perennial poppy genus with distinctive woolly leaves and large flowers, endemic to southwestern….
White bear poppy is a rare (CNPS 2B.2) California native perennial found in the northeastern Mojave Desert in rocky slopes at elevations of 800 to 1,600 meters. Flowering from April to May, this plant produces white flowers with six petals 25 to 40 millimeters long, creating a striking contrast against its glaucous stems. Growing 20 to 50 centimeters tall with distinctive bluish-green stems, it develops a robust and compact form. Its leaves range from 2.5 to 12 centimeters long, forming a basal rosette with soft, rounded edges. The fruit develops 25 to 40 millimeters long, bearing small seeds approximately 1.5 to 2 millimeters in size.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Only Arctomecon in CA - a desert-adapted perennial poppy genus with distinctive woolly leaves and large flowers, endemic to southwestern US deserts
Habitat and range
Habitat: Rocky slopes
Elevation: 800-1600 m
California counties: San Bernardino, Inyo
Outside California: southern Nevada
Bloom period
Arctomecon merriamii blooms Apr-May.
Conservation status
CNPS 2B.2
How to tell it apart
vs Argemone: Arctomecon has long wavy hairs; Argemone has sharp spines.; vs Papaver: Arctomecon has long wavy hairs 5-15 mm; Papaver has short straight hairs or none.; vs Glaucium: Arctomecon has long wavy hairs; Glaucium is smooth or has short hairs.; vs Eschscholzia: Arctomecon has long wavy hairs; Eschscholzia is smooth or has short appressed hairs.
Frequently asked questions
Is Arctomecon merriamii native to California?
Yes. Arctomecon merriamii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Arctomecon merriamii bloom?
Arctomecon merriamii blooms Apr-May.
Where in California does Arctomecon merriamii grow?
Arctomecon merriamii occurs in San Bernardino, Inyo, at elevations of 800-1600 m.
What plant family does Arctomecon merriamii belong to?
Arctomecon merriamii is in the Papaveraceae family, genus Arctomecon.
Is Arctomecon merriamii rare or endangered?
Arctomecon merriamii carries California Rare Plant Rank 2B.2, state rank S3.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CNPS Rare Plant Inventory · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.