Papaver hybridum
Rough poppy
(c) Ken-ichi Ueda, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Ken-ichi Ueda · licence
Family: Papaveraceae · Type: Herb · Not Native
Papaver hybridum (Rough poppy) is a non-native California herb in the Papaveraceae family, recognized by densely stiff-bristly fruit capsule.
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.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 5 sympatric species; key feature is densely stiff-bristly fruit capsule
Habitat and range
Habitat: Disturbed areas, cultivated fields
Elevation: < 700 m
Outside California: eastern United States, native to Eurasia
Bloom period
Papaver hybridum blooms Apr.
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 hybridum native to California?
No. Papaver hybridum is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Papaver hybridum bloom?
Papaver hybridum blooms Apr.
What plant family does Papaver hybridum belong to?
Papaver hybridum is in the Papaveraceae family, genus Papaver.
What habitat does Papaver hybridum grow in?
Papaver hybridum grows in Disturbed areas, cultivated fields.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · 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.