A bonus floral this week… California Poppies along the Big Sur coast. The California Poppy (Eschscholzia californica) is native to California and Mexico but is also grown worldwide for decoration. It belongs to the family Eschscholzioideae, which is related to Papaveroideae (including the opium poppy). The California Poppy has also been found in Australia and other southern hemisphere tropical and temperate regions.
The California poppy has been used in traditional medicine and cosmetics by indigenous people in California. Many Native American tribes have cultural links to the poppy, including its traditional uses and significance in folklore.
California highway sign with California Poppies.
In the 19th century, the California poppy was both a native plant and a symbol of California. It represented the idea of a “true” Californian, mainly celebrated by the white community. The Native Daughters and Sons of the Golden West helped make the California poppy a cultural icon. It became the state flower of California in 1903.
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