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Tree Poppy
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Tree Poppy

Dendromecon

Basic Details
Description
Floral Formula
Features
Translations
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Basic Details

NameTree Poppy
DescriptionRare California native evergreen shrub producing abundant satiny, golden-yellow poppy flowers that seem to glow against silvery blue-gray foliage. The four-petaled blooms measure 2-3 inches across with prominent clusters of yellow stamens at the center, appearing from spring through summer. Endemic to California and Baja California, this drought-tolerant shrub thrives in dry, rocky slopes and is a fire-follower, blooming prolifically after wildfires.
FamilyPapaveraceae
GenusDendromecon
TribePapavereae

Floral Formula & Features

Floral FormulaEBr ⊕ ☿ K2 C4 A∞ G(2)

Ebracteate (no bracts), Actinomorphic (radially symmetrical), bisexual, 2 free sepals that fall early, 4 free petals in cross formation, numerous free stamens, 2 fused carpels with superior ovary typical of Papaveraceae

Features
  • Name 'Dendromecon' comes from Greek 'dendron' (tree) and 'mecon' (poppy), meaning tree poppy. 'Rigida' means stiff in Latin, referring to the rigid, leathery leaves. Also called Bush Poppy due to its woody, shrubby growth habit unlike herbaceous poppies
  • Satiny, golden-yellow flowers 2-3 inches (5-8 cm) across with four broad, crinkled petals surrounding a dense cluster of yellow stamens. Buds are oval and pointed, opening to reveal delicate, tissue-paper-like petals. Blooms appear singly at branch tips, creating a scattered display across the shrub
  • Evergreen woody shrub that blooms heavily in spring (March-June) with sporadic flowering through summer. Fire-follower that blooms prolifically after wildfires, with seeds germinating best after fire scarification. Woody stems and branches create open, airy structure
  • Grows 3-8 feet (90-240 cm) tall and wide, forming rounded shrub. Lifespan of 10-20 years with proper care. Propagated from seed (requires scarification) or semi-hardwood cuttings. Two species: D. rigida (mainland) and D. harfordii (Channel Islands, larger flowers)
  • Endemic to California and Baja California, Mexico. D. rigida grows in chaparral and coastal sage scrub from San Francisco Bay to Baja. D. harfordii restricted to Channel Islands off southern California coast. Found on dry, rocky slopes and ridges
  • Requires full sun with 6-8 hours of direct sunlight. Extremely drought-tolerant once established, needing little to no summer water. Thrives in poor, rocky, well-drained soil. Intolerant of heavy clay or wet conditions. Adapted to Mediterranean climate with dry summers
  • Attracts native bees and other pollinators. Deer resistant due to aromatic foliage. Excellent for water-wise gardens, dry slopes, and native plant landscapes. Difficult to transplant once established due to deep taproot. Resents summer water and may die from root rot if overwatered
  • Rare in cultivation due to specific growing requirements. Protected in some areas due to habitat loss. Best suited to California and similar Mediterranean climates. Prune lightly after flowering to maintain shape. May be short-lived in gardens (5-10 years) but spectacular while it lasts

Names in Different Languages

Latin / ScientificDendromecon
English (Alternate)Bush Poppy, California Tree Poppy, Tree Celandine, Plume Poppy, Harford's Tree Poppy, Channel Island Tree Poppy, Island Tree Poppy, Dendromecon harfordii
Hindiपोस्त (Post), खसखस (Khasakhas)
Tamilமலர் குங்கிலியம் (Malar Kungiliyam)
Teluguఆర్జిమోన్ (Argemone)
Malayalamകരിപ്പൂ (Karipoo), കരിപ്പൂച്ചെടി (Karipoochedi)
Kannadaಗಸಗಸೆ (Gasagase), ಪಾಪಿ (Pāpi)
Sanskritखस्खसः (Khaskhasa), अहिफेन (Ahiphena)
Bengaliপপি ফুল (Poppy phul)
Frenchcoquelicot
RussianКалифорнийский мак (Kaliforniyskiy mak)
Spanishamapola
GermanMohnbaum

What is Floral Formula?

A floral formula is a symbolic representation of a flower's structure using letters, numbers, and special symbols. It provides a concise way to describe the arrangement and number of floral parts.

Example Formula
% K(6) C1+2+(2) A(9) G2

This formula describes the flower's symmetry, sepals, petals, stamens, and carpels in a standardized format.

Formula Sequence

  • Bract: Br or Ebr
  • Bracteole: Brl or Ebrl
  • Symmetry: % (Radial) or ⊕ (Bilateral)
  • Sex: ♀ (Female), ♂ (Male), or ⚥ (Bisexual)
  • Calyx/Sepal: K<number> (Free or Fused)
  • Corolla/Petal: C<number> (Free or Fused)
  • Androecium: A<number> (Free or Fused)
  • Gynaecium: G<number> (Superior or Inferior Ovary)

Symbol Meanings

  • Numbers: Indicate quantity of parts
  • Parentheses (): Parts are fused together
  • Plus (+): Parts in different whorls
  • Underline: Superior ovary position
  • Overline: Inferior ovary position
  • ∞: Numerous parts (too many to count)

Understanding floral formulas helps botanists quickly identify and classify flowers based on their structural characteristics.