Eschscholzia papastillii

Mojave poppy

Family: Papaveraceae · Type: annual · Native

Mojave poppy is a California native annual found in desert washes, flats, and slopes across desert regions. Flowering from February to May, this plant produces bright yellow flowers with delicate petals 10 to 25 millimeters long that emerge from nodding buds. Growing with erect, open stems 10 to 40 centimeters tall and completely glabrous, the plant has a distinctive growth habit. Its leaves feature slender segments that taper to acute or acuminate tips, with the uppermost cauline leaves having 1 to 3 narrow segments. Each flower is subtended by a leaf, creating a delicate and structured appearance in the desert landscape.

Habitat: Desert washes, flats, slopes

Bloom period: Feb-May

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