California Poppy flowers are solitary on long stems, silky-textured, with four petals; flower color ranges from yellow to orange, with flowering from February to September. The petals close at night or in cold, windy weather and open again the following morning, although they may remain closed in cloudy weather.
Fun Fact California poppy leaves were used medicinally by Native Americans, and the pollen was used cosmetically. The seeds are used in cooking. An aqueous extract of the plant has sedative and anxiolytic action. The extract acts as a mild sedative when smoked. The effect is far milder than that of opium.