Papaver californicum
Fire poppy
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Papaveraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Papaver californicum (Fire poppy) is a native California herb in the Papaveraceae family, recognized by brick-red petals and yellow-green filaments.
Fire poppy is a California native perennial found in coastal western and southwestern California in burns, disturbed areas, and open woodland at elevations below 1,200 meters. Flowering from April to May, this plant produces distinctive brick-red flowers with green-spotted bases, each petal 10 to 20 millimeters long. Growing 30 to 60 centimeters tall with a variable hairiness ranging from glabrous to shaggy-hairy, the plant has an upright and somewhat delicate form. Its leaves span 3 to 9 centimeters with a variable texture, complementing the plant's striking floral display. The fruit is narrowly obovate, measuring 1 to 1.6 centimeters long and containing many small, net-ridged seeds.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 5 sympatric species; key features are brick-red petals and yellow-green filaments
Habitat and range
Habitat: Burns, disturbed areas, open woodland
Elevation: < 1200 m
California counties: Ventura, San Bernardino, Riverside, Orange, San Diego, Contra Costa, Los Angeles, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Marin, Tulare, Monterey, Kern, Butte, Santa Clara, Napa
Bloom period
Papaver californicum blooms Apr-May.
How to tell it apart
vs Eschscholzia: Papaver capsule opens by top pores; Eschscholzia splits lengthwise and sits in cup-shaped base.; vs Oreomecon: Papaver fruit is broader than long; Oreomecon fruit is longer than broad.; vs Rosa: Papaver has 4-6 separate petals; Rosa has 5 petals and thorny stems.; vs Ranunculus: Papaver has 2 sepals that drop early; Ranunculus has 5 persistent sepals.; vs Tropaeolum: Papaver has capsule fruit; Tropaeolum has wrinkled nutlet fruits in threes.
Frequently asked questions
Is Papaver californicum native to California?
Yes. Papaver californicum is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Papaver californicum bloom?
Papaver californicum blooms Apr-May.
Where in California does Papaver californicum grow?
Papaver californicum occurs in Ventura, San Bernardino, Riverside, Orange, San Diego, Contra Costa, Los Angeles, San Luis Obispo and other counties, at elevations of < 1200 m.
What plant family does Papaver californicum belong to?
Papaver californicum is in the Papaveraceae family, genus Papaver.
What habitat does Papaver californicum grow in?
Papaver californicum grows in Burns, disturbed areas, open woodland.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
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.