Romneya Coulteri, Matilija Poppy

This California native shrub does not shine away from the limelight. It is BIG, it has BIG robust flowers that look like a fried egg (this plant is also sometimes called Fried Egg plant) and said flowers are seriously as big as an infant’s head (I know because I have held up my child’s head to the flower in question). 

I bought one years ago from Recon Native Nursery as a 1 gallon and it was maybe 4” tall. Just a wee little baby. After one season it shot up to 4-6’ and the next season it was over 8’ tall! Admittedly, the space I planted it in was too small, but I can’t bear to see it go! Matilija poppy blooms early in the summer, and after the blooms subside, I cut it back hard. Then by next summer, just like that, it pops back up at a rapid rate. I only watered it that first season, although now I think it would probably prefer a good watering once a week or so. Now, if I had a huge backyard, then I would plant this maybe in the background, or on a hill. And, in a very native setting you wouldn’t need to cut it back and it would just go deciduous or the foliage turns a silver grey and it would add to your native garden, au natural charm! Why mess with such a good thing like mother nature? They also can spread by rhizomes – so watch for that. Mine didn’t start doing that util about 2 years after planting.

I would give it a try- it tolerates a lot and works in many climates! (I didn’t list the sunset zones because I have seen many reports of it doing well almost anywhere!)

Romenya Coulteri bloom, in my backyard in San Diego