Eschscholzia ramosa
Island poppy, Island Poppy
(c) Copyright by Curtis Clark, licensed as noted, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · licence
Family: Papaveraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 4.3
Eschscholzia ramosa (Island poppy) is a native California herb in the Papaveraceae family, recognized by bushy habit and blunt bud tips.
Island poppy is a California native annual found in the Channel Islands at elevations below 500 meters in open places, especially chaparral. Flowering from March to June, this plant produces yellow flowers with orange-spotted bases, 5 to 15 millimeters long. Growing 5 to 30 centimeters tall with an erect, glaucous form and densely leafy upper branches that give a bushy appearance, it creates a distinctive rounded silhouette. Its leaves have obtuse segments, creating a soft, delicate texture across the plant's structure. The fruit reaches 4 to 7 centimeters long, bearing seeds approximately 1.4 to 1.6 millimeters wide with a distinctive net-ridged surface.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 2 sympatric species; distinguished by bushy habit and blunt bud tips
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open places, especially chaparral
Elevation: < 500 m
California counties: Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, Ventura
Outside California: Baja California (Cedros Island, Guadalupe Island)
Bloom period
Eschscholzia ramosa 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 ramosa native to California?
Yes. Eschscholzia ramosa is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Eschscholzia ramosa bloom?
Eschscholzia ramosa blooms Mar-Jun.
Where in California does Eschscholzia ramosa grow?
Eschscholzia ramosa occurs in Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, Ventura, at elevations of < 500 m.
What plant family does Eschscholzia ramosa belong to?
Eschscholzia ramosa is in the Papaveraceae family, genus Eschscholzia.
Is Eschscholzia ramosa rare or endangered?
Eschscholzia ramosa carries California Rare Plant Rank 4.3, state rank S4.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Eschscholzia rhombipetala — Diamond-petaled california poppy
- Eschscholzia sp.
- Eschscholzia androuxii — Joshua tree poppy
- Eschscholzia caespitosa — Foothill poppy
- Eschscholzia californica — California poppy
- Eschscholzia glyptosperma — Desert gold poppy
- Fumaria capreolata — White ramping fumitory
- Fumaria officinalis — Fumitory
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.