Papaver argemone

Long pricklyhead poppy

Family: Papaveraceae · Type: perennial · Not Native

Long pricklyhead poppy is a naturalized perennial found in central western California in disturbed areas at elevations below 500 meters. Flowering from April to May, this plant produces dark red flowers with approximately 2 centimeters wide petals featuring a dark-spotted base, accompanied by purple filaments and blue anthers. Growing with stiff-hairy stems 20 to 50 centimeters tall, the plant has an upright and rigid structure. Its leaves extend 3 to 12 centimeters long, with peduncles covered in appressed stiff hairs. The fruit is narrowly obovate, 1.5 to 2 centimeters in length and sparsely covered with soft hairs.

Habitat: Uncommon. Disturbed areas

Bloom period: Apr-May

Elevation: < 500 m

Bioregions: CW, expected elsewhere

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