California Poppy (Eschscholzia californica)
Family: Poppy (Papaveraceae)
California Poppy grows in grassy meadows and hillsides throughout California, where it's the state flower. In the Yosemite area, though, Tufted Poppy is far more common; if you drive into Yosemite in the spring along Highway 140 and see the Merced River Canyon spotted orange with poppies, it's Tufted Poppies you're seeing. Most years you can find California Poppies along the Wawona Meadow trail.
Size: typically around a foot tall, with blooms a couple inches across
Flowering Season: March to June
The Dark Side: California Poppies are notorious prima donnas, refusing to open their flowers unless the sun is out. They do this to torment photographers trying to capture them in the soft light of an overcast day or a sunset.
This Photo: Near Highway 49 between Ahwahnee and Oakhurst, early June; elevation 2,300 feet (700 meters). The pink flowers in the background are Farewell to Spring.
More Poppy Pictures
 Poppy Profiles |
 After the bloom |
 Overhead View |