Eschscholzia hypecoides
San benito poppy, San Benito Poppy
(c) Matt Berger, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Matt Berger · licence
Family: Papaveraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 4.3
Eschscholzia hypecoides (San benito poppy) is a native California herb in the Papaveraceae family, recognized by sparse hairs and small petals.
San benito poppy is a native annual herb ranked 4.3 by CNPS, found in the south-central inner Coast Ranges in grassy areas and open slopes with loose, shale-derived soils at elevations of 200 to 1,600 meters. Flowering from March to June, this plant produces bright yellow flowers 10 to 15 millimeters long with delicate, nodding buds. Growing with erect stems 5 to 30 centimeters tall and sparsely hairy throughout, it has a slender, upright form. Its finely divided leaves have obtuse segments that are sparsely minute-hairy, creating a delicate, feathery appearance. The plant produces elongated fruits 3 to 7 centimeters long, with small brown seeds that have a distinctive net-ridged surface.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 4 sympatric species; distinguished by sparse hairs and small petals
Habitat and range
Habitat: Grassy areas or loose, generally shale-derived bare soils on open slopes
Elevation: 200-1600 m
California counties: Santa Barbara, Fresno, Monterey, Kern, Stanislaus, San Luis Obispo, San Benito, Los Angeles, Sierra, Modoc, Santa Clara, Imperial, Napa, Mendocino, Tehama, Amador, Calaveras, Kings
Bloom period
Eschscholzia hypecoides blooms Mar-Jun.
Conservation status
CNPS 4.3
How to tell it apart
vs Papaver: Eschscholzia sepals form pointed cap that pops off; Papaver has 2 separate hairy sepals.; vs Artemisia: Eschscholzia has 4-petaled flowers; Artemisia has tiny clustered flower heads, no petals.; vs Dendromecon: Eschscholzia is herbaceous annual; Dendromecon is woody shrub with undivided leaves.; vs Afropapaver: Eschscholzia has cup-shaped receptacle; Afropapaver has flat receptacle.; vs Camissoniopsis: Eschscholzia has numerous stamens; Camissoniopsis has exactly 8 stamens.
Frequently asked questions
Is Eschscholzia hypecoides native to California?
Yes. Eschscholzia hypecoides is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Eschscholzia hypecoides bloom?
Eschscholzia hypecoides blooms Mar-Jun.
Where in California does Eschscholzia hypecoides grow?
Eschscholzia hypecoides occurs in Santa Barbara, Fresno, Monterey, Kern, Stanislaus, San Luis Obispo, San Benito, Los Angeles and other counties, at elevations of 200-1600 m.
What plant family does Eschscholzia hypecoides belong to?
Eschscholzia hypecoides is in the Papaveraceae family, genus Eschscholzia.
Is Eschscholzia hypecoides rare or endangered?
Eschscholzia hypecoides carries California Rare Plant Rank 4.3, state rank S4.
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.