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Dendromecon rigida
Dendromecon rigida Benth.
Tree Poppy, Bush Poppy
Papaveraceae (Poppy Family)
Synonym(s):
USDA Symbol: DERI
USDA Native Status: L48 (N)
Tree-poppy is a stiff, rounded, evergreen shrub, normally 6 ft. high but sometimes taller. The main stems have grayish or whitish, shredding bark and bear narrow, gray-green, leathery leaves. Brilliant yellow, cup-shaped flowers at ends of short branches or on long stalks in leaf axils. Four-petaled, yellow flowers with numerous stamens occur singly at the ends of short branchlets.
Tree Poppy may be very common several years after a fire in chaparral. There is only one other species in the genus, Island Tree Poppy (D. harfordii), found on islands off the coast of southern California.
Plant Characteristics
Duration: PerennialHabit: Shrub
Leaf Retention: Evergreen
Leaf Arrangement: Alternate
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Fruit Type: Capsule
Size Notes: Up to about 10 feet tall, often shorter.
Bloom Information
Bloom Color: YellowBloom Time: Feb , Mar , Apr , May , Jun , Jul
Distribution
USA: CANative Distribution: CA Coast Ranges & w. base of Sierras from Shasta to Tulare Cos.
Native Habitat: Dry slopes; stony washes; below 6000 ft.
Growing Conditions
Light Requirement: SunSoil Moisture: Dry
Soil Description: Dry, well-drained rocky or clay soils.
Conditions Comments: Must have perfectly drained soil and no fertilization.
Propagation
Description: Propagation by seed is possible.Seed Collection: Ripe fruits may be collected from May to July. Seeds are black.
Seed Treatment: Little is known about the germination of this species. Germination appears to be enhanced by incubating seeds at 40-70 degrees, alternately, for 50 days, and/or by burning litter on the surface of flats after the seeds are sown.
Commercially Avail: yes
Find Seed or Plants
Find seed sources for this species at the Native Seed Network.
From the National Organizations Directory
According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:Native Seed Network - Corvallis, OR
Bibliography
Bibref 995 - Native Landscaping from El Paso to L.A. (2000) Wasowski, S. and A. WasowskiSearch More Titles in Bibliography
Web Reference
Webref 30 - Calflora (2018) CalfloraWebref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
Additional resources
USDA: Find Dendromecon rigida in USDA PlantsFNA: Find Dendromecon rigida in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Dendromecon rigida
Metadata
Record Modified: 2022-10-18Research By: TWC Staff