Eschscholzia mexicana
Desert california poppy
(c) Jose Luis Leon de la Luz, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Papaveraceae · Type: Annual · Native
Eschscholzia mexicana (Desert california poppy) is a native California annual in the Papaveraceae family, recognized by entire cotyledons.
Desert california poppy is a native annual found in desert washes, flats, and slopes throughout desert regions at elevations below 2,500 meters. Flowering from January to May, this plant produces vibrant yellow flowers with orange bases, typically 10 to 20 millimeters wide, held on individual stems each subtended by a leaf. Growing erect or spreading to 5 to 60 centimeters tall, it forms a glabrous plant with a delicate, sometimes glaucous appearance. Its leaves are divided into segments that can be either obtuse or acute, with basal and stem-based foliage creating a soft, feathery texture. The fruit develops into elongated capsules 3 to 9 centimeters long, containing small brown to black seeds with a distinctive net-ridged surface.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated; distinguished by entire cotyledons
Habitat and range
Habitat: Desert washes, flats, slopes
Elevation: < 2500 m
Outside California: to Nevada, Texas, Sonora (Mexico)
Bloom period
Eschscholzia mexicana blooms Jan-May.
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 mexicana native to California?
Yes. Eschscholzia mexicana is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Eschscholzia mexicana bloom?
Eschscholzia mexicana blooms Jan-May.
What plant family does Eschscholzia mexicana belong to?
Eschscholzia mexicana is in the Papaveraceae family, genus Eschscholzia.
What habitat does Eschscholzia mexicana grow in?
Eschscholzia mexicana grows in Desert washes, flats, slopes.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Eschscholzia minutiflora — Coville s poppy
- Eschscholzia minutiflora subsp. covillei — Coville's poppy
- Eschscholzia minutiflora subsp. minutiflora — Pygmy poppy
- Eschscholzia minutiflora subsp. twisselmannii — Red rock poppy
- Eschscholzia papastillii — Mojave poppy
- Eschscholzia parishii — Parish's poppy; gold poppy
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-09-30
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.