Papaver somniferum

Opium poppy

Family: Papaveraceae · Type: perennial · Not Native

Opium poppy is a naturalized perennial found in the California Floristic Province in disturbed areas and fallow fields at elevations below 500 meters. Flowering from June to August, this plant produces white to red or purple flowers with four to six centimeter petals, often featuring dark spots at the base of the petals. Growing 60 to 120 centimeters tall with a glaucous appearance and sparse or absent hairs, the plant has an upright, robust form with distinctive stem-clasping leaves. Its cauline leaves are 10 to 20 centimeters long, spreading broadly along the stem with bases that wrap around and grip the main stem. The plant produces large, round fruits measuring 3 to 5 centimeters in diameter, creating distinctive seed capsules after flowering.

Habitat: Disturbed areas, fallow fields

Bloom period: Jun-Aug

Elevation: < 500 m

Bioregions: CA-FP

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