The California Poppy, Echo Mtn. Echoes Spring 1997

Flora and Fauna

The California Poppy
Eschscholtzia Californica

By Jake Brouwer

In the early days of Pasadena and Altadena, the hills and fields below the foot of Echo Mountain were covered with poppies much to the delight of all who laid eyes on them. The Spanish whilst sailing up and down the newly discovered coast, looked inland and saw the flame of orange red poppies spread upon the hillsides. This was The "land of fire." They said the alter-cloth of San Pascal was spread upon the hills and with devotional spirit the explorers withdrew from their ships to worship on the shore.

It is difficult now to recognize the area these golden flowers of California once inhabited. Perhaps a street called Poppyfield Drive is not just a pleasing name dreamed up by developers, but a clue to a scene pictured on a postcard dating to the early 1900's.

Now, on occasion, in the canyons leading away from the dense populace of our foothills, a golden flower will open in the waxing sunshine of the morning, in amongst the stark contrast of yucca and decaying granite. When in competition with grasses and other herb as in the wilds of Rubio, there is often but one slender stem bearing a single blossom at its tip. Quite often this may be the only thing of this unequaled beauty on a long stretch of trail. It may be the only poppy you see that day.

In 1903 the California Poppy was so popular it became the state flower. It was given the generic name Eschscholtzia Californica taken from J. F. Eschscholtzia of Kotzebue's scientific expedition. Other names given by the Spanish seem more appropriate, names like "amapola," "torosa," "dormidera," and "copo de oro," which means "cup of gold."

"Dormidera," or the "sleepy one" is also a quite fitting name as the blossoms open in the brightening morning sun, unless the day is cool when a noon awakening is appropriate. On chilly or foggy mornings the "sleepy one" may not get up at all, choosing instead to remain closed until the sun comes out again.

The California Poppy's colors range from white to pink, all shades of yellow from pale lemon to bright canary, and a deep orange red. Its finely cut foliage is gray-green. The stem is often 12 to 18 inches in height topped by flowers 2 to 3 inches across, with 4 saucer shaped petals. Its deep taproots allow these plants to survive several seasons.

Some Indians were said to boil the plant, or roast it on hot stones, to later eat it as a green. A drug was made of the plant and used in medicine as a remedy for headache and insomnia. The early Spanish Californians made a hair oil by frying the entire plant in olive oil and then adding some choice perfume.

An Indian legend says the presence of gold in the earth is due to the petals that have fallen year after year and sank into the soil. As it may well have been, considering the amount of wealth now on this once called alter-cloth of gold, San Pascal.

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Last modified: February 12, 1999