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Definition of california poppy
california poppy
Plural:California poppies
california poppy Lexical Profile
CEFR
C1
Grade
6
Tier
2
Usage
Rare
• noun
1
North American A species of flowering plant (Eschscholzia californica) in the poppy family, native to the United States and Mexico, characterized by bright orange or yellow cup-shaped flowers and recognized as the official state flower of California.
Example
"Every spring, the arid hillsides are transformed by a vibrant superbloom of California poppies."
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Named for its native geographic region of California and its membership in the poppy family (Papaveraceae). Its scientific name, Eschscholzia californica, was assigned in the 1810s by German botanist Adelbert von Chamisso in honor of his colleague, Johann Friedrich von Eschscholtz.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of California poppy. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 15, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/california poppy