Papaver hybridum

Rough poppy

Family: Papaveraceae · Type: perennial · Not Native

Rough poppy is a naturalized perennial found in central western California, western Mojave Desert, and San Joaquin Valley in disturbed areas and cultivated fields at elevations below 700 meters. Flowering in April, this plant produces striking red to purple-red flowers with a dark basal spot, each petal up to 25 millimeters long and featuring purple filaments and blue anthers. Growing to 50 centimeters tall with stiff-hairy stems, it has a robust and bristly appearance. Its leaves measure 3 to 10 centimeters long, with an overall stiff and textured character. The fruit develops as a widely obovate to round capsule up to 1.5 centimeters long, densely covered in stiff bristles.

Habitat: Disturbed areas, cultivated fields

Bloom period: Apr

Elevation: < 700 m

Bioregions: SnJV, CW, w DMoj, 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.