Papaver rhoeas
Corn poppy
(c) Andreas Rockstein, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · licence
Family: Papaveraceae · Type: Herb · Not Native
Papaver rhoeas (Corn poppy) is a non-native California herb in the Papaveraceae family, recognized by large petals and smooth, moderately-sized capsules.
Corn poppy is a naturalized annual found in California's Central West and South Coast regions in disturbed areas and fallow fields at elevations below 1,800 meters. Flowering from June to July, this plant produces white or red flowers with distinctive red marks, petals 20 to 40 millimeters long and featuring purple filaments and blue anthers. Growing 30 to 80 centimeters tall with distinctly hairy stems, it develops an erect and branching structure. Its leaves are deeply lobed and divided, measuring 3 to 15 centimeters long with a soft, hairy texture. The fruit is widely obovate to round, reaching 1 to 2 centimeters in length.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 5 sympatric species; key features are large petals and smooth, moderately-sized capsules
Habitat and range
Habitat: Disturbed areas, fallow fields
Elevation: < 1800 m
Outside California: North America, native to Eurasia
Bloom period
Papaver rhoeas blooms Jun-Jul.
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 rhoeas native to California?
No. Papaver rhoeas is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Papaver rhoeas bloom?
Papaver rhoeas blooms Jun-Jul.
What plant family does Papaver rhoeas belong to?
Papaver rhoeas is in the Papaveraceae family, genus Papaver.
What habitat does Papaver rhoeas grow in?
Papaver rhoeas grows in Disturbed areas, fallow 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.