California’s state flower is the Californian poppy.Its bright yellow color has also earned it the name flame flower. This lovely flower can be seen in the wild all over California, especially in southern California.California chose the California poppy as their officially designated state flower on March 2, 1903. The bright orange-yellow flowers are a symbol of the Golden State. The golden flowers can be seen in the blooming season and turn the fields gold.Poppy grows wild in their native range of California. There are various flower colors that are close to orange and yellow. The California poppy survives mild winters and can be seen in full bloom in the spring to summer seasons.The golden poppy can be found growing freely along country roads and expressways throughout the state. The Californian poppy is important among the California symbols and will help you recognize California state as soon as you enter it.April 6 has been officially designated as California Poppy Day. In fact, the whole week is celebrated as a poppy week in honor of the official state flower. Some people believe that there are laws that prohibit the cutting of these Golden poppies because they are the California state flower. However, you may be amazed to hear that there are no such laws.You just need written permission from the landowner to cut and sell flowers from the land. The California poppy is a beautiful and easy-to-maintain flower that you can grow in your yard. They stay fresh for longer when not pucked.If you enjoy this article all about California poppies, then why not also read about California Cactus types or California facts right here on Kidadl? We are sure that you will enjoy them.Are California poppies really poppies?The official California state flower is called the golden poppy as well.It is interesting to know that the Californian poppy is not the same as the poppy seed but has the same qualities. The California poppy (Eschscholzia californica) is also useful. It has medicinal properties. It can be used as an analgesic, antihistamine, antispasmodic, anxiolytic, bitter, anti-inflammatory, diaphoretic, diuretic, a nervous system relaxant, a sedative, hypnotic, and a vulnerary (healing of wounds).The botanical name of the golden poppy was given in honor of Dr Johann Friedrich Eschscholtz. He was a surgeon and a naturalist. While on a Russian expedition, he found this flower. When he docked for some time in San Francisco, Dr Eschscholtz and his friend Adelbert von Chamisso discovered it. They went out to the countryside and found the golden poppy. They found out that the natives had been using it as a sedative.So botanically, it is a true poppy belonging to the Papaveraceae family, with which it has similar qualities. However, there is also a huge difference; it is not an opiate. The golden poppy is not addictive. In fact, it is known to help people deal with opioid and drug withdrawal symptoms and PTSD. Being a narcotic, it promotes sleep and also works as an antispasmodic and muscle-relaxant as well.The California poppy is known to contain isoquinoline alkaloids californidine, eschscholtzine, and protopine. These all have hypnotic and sedative properties just like morphine. There are no noted disorientation or addictive habits caused by these poppies.This flower works as a remedy for insomnia and disturbed sleep. The California poppy has rutin and flavone glycosides in it that reduce inflammation.How much sunlight does a California poppy need?The California poppy is an easy-to-grow flower.These flowers grow and bloom in the sun. Six hours of uninterrupted sunlight is required for them to survive. When more rays of sun can hit them, the quality of the flowers will be better. Poppies growing in shady conditions may look ragged and succumb to diseases.This is a perennial plant. The delicate flowers bloom with a brilliant orange-yellow color. They can be a range of colors from ivory to yellow, and sometimes even red. A full bloom can be seen between February and September.These flowers are not a rich source of nectar. Still, bees and insects love the flower for harvesting pollen. These flowers exhibit nyctinasty. This means that their petals close at night and open again in the morning. This happens when there is ample light and pleasant temperature conditions. Taking Care Of The California PoppyMany people love this flower, as it is easy to grow and can be used for medicinal purposes.Native wildflowers, like California poppies, grow on their own in the wild. Even if you grow them at home, they are easy to maintain. The main factor is giving them growing conditions just like their native habitat.For these poppies, give them less water and fertilizer. You do not need to coddle your plants. It is interesting to see them self-sow and pop up when the growing seasons arrive.Deadheading shall promote additional flowering. If you plan to self-seed these flowers, then leave some flowers so they can drop their seeds. These plants grow well in hot climates.Light is a necessity for these flowers to bloom well. A minimum of six hours of sunlight will result in a full bloom. Poppies in shady conditions easily succumb to diseases. California poppies can even thrive in poor soils. Both sandy and rocky soils are good for California poppies. Heavy clay soil doesn’t allow them to grow. These plants’ roots need proper soil drainage.California poppies need very little water. They can survive in drought-hit areas as well. Spring rainfall is adequate for these plants out in the wild. In areas with high temperatures in the summers, the plants become dormant. They come up when the heat is lower.When the soil warms up in the spring season, the moisture from spring rain is enough to trigger germination. The temperatures must remain mild, varying between 50 and 75 degrees. Excess heat leads to dormancy.When cool temperatures are back, the plants regrow and rebloom. California poppies like low or moderate humidity levels. When there is high humidity, ample soil drainage and proper airflow are needed for these plants to stay healthy.No fertilizer is required to grow California poppies. The addition of chemical fertilizers will only lead to excess foliage growth. This hampers the blooms.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked learning California state flower facts, then why not take a look at ancient Indian architecture facts or Jeju City facts?
California’s state flower is the Californian poppy.
