Bush poppy facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Bush poppy
Scientific classification
Genus:	Dendromecon
Species:	rigida

Dendromecon rigida, also known as the bush poppy or tree poppy, is a cool plant! It's a type of shrub or small tree that belongs to the poppy family (Papaveraceae). You can find it growing naturally in California and Baja California.

Where It Grows

The bush poppy grows in many parts of California. You can find it in the foothills of the California Coast Ranges and the Sierra Nevada. It also grows in the Klamath Mountains and the southwest Cascade Range.

It is also found in Southern California and northern Baja California Peninsula. Here, it grows in areas like the Transverse Ranges and Peninsular Ranges.

These plants like dry places. They often grow on dry slopes and in washes. You can find them at elevations up to about 1,800 meters (5,900 feet). Bush poppies especially love areas that have recently had a fire.

What It Looks Like

The bush poppy is usually a small shrub. It rarely grows taller than 3 meters (10 feet). Its leaves are long and narrow, about 3 to 10 centimeters (1 to 4 inches) long. They are more than three times as long as they are wide.

The edges of the leaves have tiny teeth. The plant stays green all year round, and its leaves feel a bit leathery.

The flowers grow one by one at the end of the branches. Each flower is about 2 to 7 centimeters (1 to 3 inches) wide. They have four bright, satiny yellow petals. These plants usually bloom from late winter to mid-spring.

When the flower opens, two small leaf-like parts called sepals fall off. The petals also fall off after the flower has been pollinated. Each flower has many stamens, which are the parts that make pollen.

After the flowers are pollinated, the plant makes fruits. These fruits are shaped like cylinders and are 5 to 10 centimeters (2 to 4 inches) long. They open from the bottom to release many smooth, brown or black seeds. Each seed has a small, pale outgrowth.

Growing Bush Poppies

People sometimes grow Dendromecon rigida in their gardens. It is a popular ornamental plant sold by special nurseries. It's a great choice for native plant gardens. It also works well in drought tolerant gardens because it doesn't need much water.

This poppy likes soil that drains water quickly. But it can also grow in clay soil if it doesn't get too much water once it's settled. It can handle soil with a pH from 6 to 8. It also prefers to be in full sun.

Images for kids

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  Dendromecon rigida Orcutt, California

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  Dendromecon rigida
  botanical art by Mary Vaux Walcott.