Grow bush poppy in full sun and soil that drains. Bush poppy is Dendromecon rigida, also called tree poppy. California poppies are a different plant.
Give it full sun, soil that drains, and almost no extra summer water
| Factor | Recommended | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Sun | Full sun all day | Do not plant it in shade that stretches the stems |
| Soil | Rocky or sandy soil that drains after rain; clay only if you give no extra summer water | Do not leave it in wet clay on a sprinkler line |
| Water | Almost no extra water once the shrub is set; at most a monthly soak | Do not keep soaking the roots through summer |
| Feed | None | Do not fertilize a shrub that lives on lean ground |
| Drought | Tolerates dry summers once the roots are set | Do not treat a dry spell as a reason to flood the roots |
| Kind | Bush poppy for a 3- to 10-foot mainland shrub with narrow leaves; island tree poppy for a larger Channel Island form with a longer bloom | Do not buy a white Matilija poppy, and do not buy the island plant as a compact 4-foot mound |
Bush poppy is a dry-garden shrub. Give it full sun and a mix that dries, then keep extra irrigation off once the plant is established. Extra summer water is the usual reason the roots rot. [1] Do not fertilize it. [2] bush poppy wants that same sun and drainage. island tree poppy shares that same job; buy it when you have room for a larger shrub with broader oval leaves, not as a stand-in for a compact mainland plant.
Does bush poppy need full sun?
Yes. Give it full sun all day. Shade stretches the stems and weakens the bloom.
How often should I water bush poppy?
Once it is established, give it almost no extra water. Keep it off lawn irrigation. Do not soak the roots through summer.
Which bush poppy should I buy?
Buy bush poppy for a 3- to 10-foot mainland shrub with narrow leaves. Buy island tree poppy when you have room for a larger Channel Island form with a longer bloom.
Plant in fall or early spring, and keep the roots intact
Set a nursery plant in full sun when the soil is workable, usually in fall or early spring. Dig a hole no deeper than the pot, and slide the plant out without tearing the roots. They break easily, so a rough knock-out often fails. [3] [4]
- Plant in fall or early spring, when the soil is workable.
- Slide the plant out of the pot without tearing the roots. Set the crown at the same depth, backfill, and water in once.
- Keep the plant off extra irrigation. A first-year shrub can have a deep soak now and then, then taper off.
- Leave about six to eight feet for a mainland shrub. Island tree poppy needs a wider gap. Read the size on the tag before you dig.
When do I plant bush poppy?
Plant in fall or early spring, at the same depth as the pot. Keep the roots intact, and keep it off extra irrigation from the start.
Trim lightly after the flowers fade
After the yellow cups fade, a light trim keeps a rounded form. Do not cut the shrub hard into old wood. This plant does not bounce back from a heavy prune the way a hedge does.
- After the flowers fade, trim lightly to keep a rounded shape.
- Do not cut hard into old wood, and do not shear it like a hedge.
- Leave a few seed pods if you want seedlings. The dry capsules throw seed when they split.
When should I prune bush poppy?
Trim lightly after bloom to keep a rounded form. Do not cut it hard into old wood.
Root a winter cutting if you want another plant
A stem cutting in winter is the usual way to start another shrub. Seed often needs a fire treatment or a cold stretch before it will sprout, so a nursery plant or a rooted cutting is the faster start.
- Take a stem cutting in winter from a healthy shoot.
- Stick it in a mix that drains. Keep it barely moist, with bottom heat and mist if you have them, until roots form.
- When you plant the rooted cutting, slide it out without tearing the new roots.
Can I start it from cuttings?
Yes. A stem cutting in winter is usually easier than seed. Stick it in a mix that drains, and keep it barely moist while it roots.
Not a California poppy — and not a Matilija poppy
California poppy is Eschscholzia, an herbaceous plant with feathery leaves — see How to Grow California Poppy. Bush poppy is a woody evergreen shrub with leathery leaves and yellow cups. True poppies are Papaver — see How to Grow Poppies. Matilija poppy, also sold as fried-egg flower, is Romneya, a white-flowered shrub with lobed leaves. Confirm the Latin on the tag.
Is bush poppy a California poppy?
No. Bush poppy is Dendromecon, a woody shrub. California poppy is Eschscholzia. Matilija poppy is Romneya, with white fried-egg flowers.
If the stems go soft after a wet summer, cut the extra water and move the shrub off the irrigation line.
FAQ
Can I start bush poppy from seed?
You can, but the seed often needs a fire treatment or a cold stretch before it will sprout. A nursery plant or a winter cutting is the faster start.
Can I grow bush poppy in a pot?
A pot with a drainage hole can hold a young plant, but this shrub wants open, draining ground. Do not leave it in a saucer of water.
Can I cut an old shrub hard?
Keep to a light trim after bloom. A hard cut into old wood often fails. If an old plant is already woody and thin, replace it rather than shearing it to stubs.
Is island tree poppy sold as a subspecies of bush poppy?
Some tags still say Dendromecon rigida subspecies harfordii. If the leaves are broad and oval, buy it as island tree poppy. Bush poppy is the mainland shrub with narrow leaves.
Is horned poppy the same plant?
No. Horned poppy is Glaucium — see How to Grow Horned Poppy. This plant is Dendromecon.
What pests hit bush poppy?
It is usually clean. Root rot shows when the soil stays wet. Keep extra summer water off, and give it sun and drain.
Recommended plants
References
- [1] Calscape -
https://calscape.org/plant/1255/Dendromecon-rigida-(Bush-Poppy) - [2] Las Pilitas Nursery -
https://www.laspilitas.com/nature-of-california/plants/239--dendromecon-rigida - [3] Summer-Dry -
https://summer-dry.com/shrub-poppies/ - [4] CNPS San Luis Obispo -
https://cnpsslo.org/2013/11/dendromecon-rigida/
More first-season notes by plant are gathered in How to Grow Guides.
Updated: Reviewed by Bosquelle Editors