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In Bloom

Romneya coulteri

"Matilija Poppy"

Look for Romneya coulteri in the Arthur L. Menzies Garden of California Native Plants.

Location Scientific Name Romneya coulteri Common Name Matilija Poppy Family Papaveraceae Plant Type Deciduous perennial Environment Upslope or well-drained soil, full sun. Drought tolerant once established. Somewhat difficult to propogate. Prune back in Winter for best shape. Bloom Blooms in May - June. Watering extends the bloom time into September. Uses Beautiful ornamental plant. Attracts wildlife. More Info Jepson Flora Project Learn planting tips Profile Contributor: Fred Bové

You'll have no trouble finding this majestic plant! It stands four feet tall with crinkly white petals four inches across, each flower with a fluffy cluster of golden stamens in its center giving it the whimsical name of the "fried egg" poppy.

The leaves of Romneya coulteri are gray green, and its tall woody stems classify it as a sub shrub. The largest wildflower native to California, it is found in dry washes and canyons in the southern part of the state and in Baja. A drought resistant plant, it grows from underground rhizomes and can be difficult to get started. Unlike other poppies, it contains no milky juice.

Romneya coulteri, or the Matilija Poppy, is named for Chief Matilija of the Chumash Tribe who once lived in Ventura County, and for Thomas Coulter, an Irish botanist traveling in the West searching for new plants.

Contributors: Docents Joanne Taylor and Kathy McNeil

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Magnolia campbellii January	Magnolia denudata February	Magnolia x veitchii March
Iris douglasiana April

Acer palmatum 'Sango kaku' January	Magnolia campbellii 'Darjeeling' February	Bomarea spp. March
Rhododendron occidentale April	Polystichum munitum May	x Chiranthofremontia lenzii June
Salvia leucantha July	Hydrangea seemannii August	Wollemia nobilis September
Cyathea cooperi October	Pinus radiata November	Correa spp. December

Garrya elliptica January	Magnolia x soulangeana February	Senecio glastifolius March
Ribes spp. April	Oxalis oregana May	Calandrinia grandiflora June
Taxus baccata July	Romneya coulteri August	Passiflora parritae September
Malvaviscus arboreus October	Monterey Cypress November	Aloe arborescens December

Aloe plicatilis January	Banksia seminuda February	Zantedeschia aethiopica March
Magnolia laevifolia April	Araucaria heterophylla May	Toxicodendron diversilobum June
Clarkia sp. July	Agapanthus August	Brugmansia September
Cedrus spp. October	Protea repens November	Camellia sinensis December

Thujopsis dolabrata January	Gordonia longicarpa February	Rojasianthe superba March
Echium spp. April	Iris douglasiana May	Digitalis purpurea June
Felicia amelloides July	Ceroxylon quindiuense August	Amaryllis belladonna September
Ginkgo biloba October	Acer morrisonense November	Ilex aquifolium December

Picea sitchensis January	Telanthophora grandifolia February	Aeonium arboreum 'Schwartzkopf' March
Leptospermum April	Salvia gesneraeflora May	Lavandula spp. June
Pelargonium July	Fuchsia paniculata August	Luma apiculata September
Luculia October	Arbutus unedo November	Cycad December

Restionaceae January	Hellebores February	Ceanothus March
Rhododendron April	Psoralea pinnata May	Fremontodendron californicum June
Leucadendron argenteum July	Crocosmia August	Gunnera tinctoria September
Pellaea rotundifolia October	Fuchsia boliviana November	Erica canaliculata December

Magnolia campbelli January	Magnolia denudata February	Camellia March
Geranium maderense April	Acmena smithii May	Eschscholzia californica June
Dendromecon harfordii July	Romneya coulteri August	Eupatorium purpureum September
Epilobium canum sp. October	Grevillea spp. November	Drimys winteri December