Papaver heterophyllum

Common Names

Wind Poppy

Summary

Wind poppy is an annual herb native to western California, from the San Francisco Bay Area south to northwestern Baja California. It grows to about 1 to 2 ft tall on wiry stems with finely divided leaves and produces bright orange four-petaled flowers with a dark central disk, giving a delicate, bobbing appearance. It is a fire follower, with seeds that germinate in response to heat, smoke, or charred wood, and it inhabits chaparral, grassy openings, and oak woodland communities.

Preferring sun to partial shade, it grows best in well-drained soils of sand, loam, or clay and is drought-tolerant with low to moderate water needs. It self-seeds readily, particularly after fire, and lends itself to borders, containers, cottage gardens, and cutting gardens, while attracting bees and other pollinators.

Lifecycle

Annual, Biennial

Height

1-2 feet

Spread

1-2 feet

Hardiness Zones

Zones 4-5, 9b

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally partial shade.

Soil Type

Well-drained loamy soil (soft sandy loam, clay loam, leaf mold loam)

Soil Drainage

Well-drained soil.

Bloom Color

Orange

Bloom Time

Spring

Foliage Color

Green

Fall Foliage Color

Green

Leaf Lifecycle

Deciduous

Growth Rate

Slow

Seasons of Interest

Spring

Propagation Methods

Seeds

Attracts Wildlife

Bees, birds, insect pollinators