California is filled with beauty and wonder. There are the star-studded streets of Hollywood, the white sand beaches of the southern coast, and the towering trees of the Sequoia National Park. But what is the state flower of California?
Although you can find many beautiful flowers throughout The Golden State, the California poppy is the state flower. If you drive around California in the spring, you’ll see these beautiful orange flowers blanketing hillsides and meadows.
History of the California State Flower
The California poppy became the official state flower on March 2, 1903. Some people think the golden-orange flower symbolized the state’s gold rush, but others believe it was simply its beauty that gave the poppy its title.
About the California Poppy
The California poppy (Eschscholzia California) is an annual plant found throughout the state. It grows up to two feet tall and develops a mounded form. The light blue-green leaves are deeply serrated and almost appear feathery. The foliage gives way to long, slender stems topped with bright orange flowers.
Each flower consists of four delicate petals arranged in a wide cup shape. They grow between two and three inches in diameter. Although each flower only lasts a few days, the plants continue to send up new blooms in the spring through early summer. Sometimes, flowers will continue to appear into the early fall.
These plants grow best in full sun but can tolerate partial shade. They grow well in dry conditions but happily accept extra moisture in the spring. However, they won’t thrive in damp areas.
California Poppy Superblooms
Although the plants are annuals, they easily self-seed. Therefore, it’s common to see large swaths of land covered with the California state flower. In especially wet springs, the flowers go into overdrive and create a spectacular ‘superbloom.’ This phenomenon creates entire hillsides covered in the bright orange blooms.
Whether or not it’s a superbloom year, there are a few hotspots where you can find these poppies blooming. Here are a few places to put on your travel list if you want to catch the California state flower in its native home.
- Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve: Lancaster, CA
- Chino Hills State Park: Chino Hills, CA
- Carrizo Plain National Monument: Santa Margarita, CA
- Santa Rosa Plateau Ecological Reserve: Murrieta, CA
How to Grow California Poppies
If you want to grow the state flower of California at home, you’re in luck! These flowers are easy to grow and care for as long as you live in the right environment. Aim to provide at least six hours of daily sun and well-draining soil. However, you don’t have to worry about the soil being high in organic matter or nutrients.
Planting seeds is the easiest way to grow these flowers. Sprinkling the seeds on the soil in the fall allows you to enjoy the blooms the following spring. After the seeds germinate, keep an eye on the plants and watch for flowers. The orange flowers may appear as early as February, but peak bloom typically occurs in April and May. Deadheading old flowers will encourage the plants to produce new blooms.
Since the plants readily self-seed, prepare for them to spread throughout your garden. If you want to limit their spread, you can remove the seed pods before they mature or pull up seedlings in the spring.
Learn More About State Flowers
Just like each state has a unique culture and geography, it also has a special state flower. Exploring our full list of state flowers will let you learn about the state flowers for the state you live in, as well as those you hope to travel to. For example, you can learn about the Kentucky state flower and see how it fits in with Churchill Downs and bourbon.
Once you know more about each state flower, you can then use these as inspiration to order a flower delivery. For example, you can order a bouquet that makes you feel at home or speaks to your sense of adventure. No matter which option you choose, you’ll enjoy farm fresh flowers grown with care.
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