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Definition of matilija poppy
matilija poppy
Plural:Matilija poppies
matilija poppy Lexical Profile
CEFR
C2
Grade
10
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
• noun
1
American A tall perennial plant native to southern California and northern Mexico, distinguished by its deeply cut, grayish-green leaves and exceptionally large, fragrant white flowers with prominent yellow centers.
Example
"The Matilija poppy, often jokingly called the 'fried egg plant' due to its distinct blooms, is a striking addition to drought-tolerant gardens in California."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for matilija poppyWord Origin & Etymology
Named after Matilija Canyon in Ventura County, California (derived from a historic Chumash village name), combined with 'poppy', tracing back to the Old English 'popæg'.
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Matilija poppy. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 12, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/matilija poppy