Argemone corymbosa

Leafy prickly poppy

Family: Papaveraceae · Type: perennial · Native

Leafy prickly poppy is a native perennial herb found in the Mojave Desert and southeastern California in dry slopes and flats at elevations of 230 to 1,200 meters. Flowering from April to May, this plant produces white flowers with large petals 20 to 35 millimeters long. Growing with robust stems 20 to 80 centimeters tall, it develops a sturdy, upright form characteristic of desert landscapes. Its leathery leaves are distinctively lobed, with lower leaves divided less than halfway to the midrib, creating an intricate and textured appearance. The plant's striking white flowers and spiny foliage make it a notable inhabitant of arid California ecosystems.

Habitat: dry slopes, flats

Bloom period: Apr-May

Elevation: 230-1200 m

Bioregions: SNE, DMoj.

California counties: San Bernardino, Los Angeles, Inyo, Riverside, Kern, San Diego, Alpine, Ventura, Tulare, Mono, Tuolumne, Imperial

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.