Weedbusters

Working together to protect New Zealand

  • Home
  • Weedbusters
    • Who are Weedbusters?
  • What Are Weeds?
    • Weed List
    • Controlling Weeds
    • Disposing of Weed Waste
    • Banned Plants
  • Get Involved
    • Become a Weedbuster
    • Weedbusters Near You
    • Weed Quiz
  • Resources
    • How to…
    • Weedbusting Guide
    • Plant Me Instead Booklet
    • Using Weedbuster photographs
    • Useful Links
  • Contact Us
You Are Here:
  1. Home
  2. What Are Weeds?
  3. Weed List
  4. Californian poppy
What Are Weeds?

Weed Information Sheet

  • Weed List
  • Controlling Weeds
    • Controlling Pest Shrubs & Trees
    • Controlling Pest Vines
    • Controlling Pest Herbs & Ground Covers
    • Controlling Pest Grasses
    • Controlling Pest Aquatic Weeds
  • Disposing of Weed Waste
  • Banned Plants

Popular Links

  • Weed List
  • Weed Quiz
  • Weedbusters Near You

Browse weeds by alphabet

a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z

Californian poppy

Botanical Name

Eschscholzia californica

Family

Papaveraceae (poppy)

Where is it originally from?

Western USA

What does it look like?

Annual or perennial herb growing as a small tufted rosette, or an erect branched plant (30-60 cm) with ribbed stems and grey or blue-green, much divided leaves (<10 cm x 10 cm). Produces individual yellow to orange flowers (spring and summer) with four overlapping petals (2-6 cm long) that only open in sunlight and that are followed by ribbed seed capsules (3-9 cm) that split in two to release numerous small black or dark brown seeds.

Are there any similar species?

E. californica can be distinguished from other poppies by its leaves which are divided into linear segments, its watery sap, and its seed capsule that splits into two parts.

Why is it weedy?

Tolerates hot, dry conditions and thrives in poor soils.

How does it spread?

Seed is spread when the capsule splits.

What damage does it do?

Outcompetes small native grasses and herbs on poor soils.

Which habitats is it likely to invade?

Bare, sandy or gravelly, dry or well-drained soils with high light levels, such as degraded or disturbed tussock grassland, braided rivers, dunes, coastal cliffs, degraded pasture, roadsides, scree slopes, and subalpine herbfields.

What can I do to get rid of it?

Pull out small patches (spring-summer).

What can I do to stop it coming back?

Where appropriate plant local native plants to shade out seedlings.

Images

Photo: Carolyn Lewis
Photo: Carolyn Lewis
Photo: Trevor James
Photo: Trevor James
Photo: Trevor James
Photo: Trevor James
Photo: Trevor James
Photo: Trevor James

Download PDF Information Sheet

Browse/Search Weeds

Weedbusters

  • Who are Weedbusters?

What Are Weeds?

  • Weed List
  • Controlling Weeds
  • Disposing of Weed Waste
  • Banned Plants

Get Involved

  • Become a Weedbuster
  • Weedbusters Near You
  • Weed Quiz

Resources

  • How to…
  • Weedbusting Guide
  • Plant Me Instead Booklet
  • Using Weedbuster photographs
  • Useful Links

Contact Us

  • Home
  • Contact Us

© 2025 Weedbusters • Website by RS

  • Home
  • Weedbusters
    • Who are Weedbusters?
  • What Are Weeds?
    • Weed List
    • Controlling Weeds
      • Controlling Pest Shrubs & Trees
      • Controlling Pest Vines
      • Controlling Pest Herbs & Ground Covers
      • Controlling Pest Grasses
      • Controlling Pest Aquatic Weeds
    • Disposing of Weed Waste
    • Banned Plants
  • Get Involved
    • Become a Weedbuster
    • Weedbusters Near You
    • Weed Quiz
  • Resources
    • How to…
      • Raise Weeds Awareness
      • Organise a Weedbusters Event
    • Weedbusting Guide
    • Plant Me Instead Booklet
    • Using Weedbuster photographs
    • Useful Links
  • Contact Us
  • Find us on Facebook