Weeds of Australia - Fact Sheet

Top Scientific Name Synonyms Family Common Names Origin Naturalised Distribution Notes

Scientific Name

Eschscholzia californica Cham.

Synonyms

Eschscholtzia californica Cham.

Family

Papaveraceae

Common Names

California golden poppy, California goldenpoppy, California poppy, Californian poppy, golden poppy

Origin

Native to western and southern USA (i.e. Oregon, Washington, New Mexico, Texas, Arizona, California, Nevada and Utah) and northern Mexico.

Naturalised Distribution

Widely naturalised in southern Australia (i.e. in many parts of eastern and southern New South Wales, in the ACT, in eastern and central Victoria, in Tasmania, in south-eastern South Australia and in the coastal districts of south-western Western Australia). Also sparingly naturalised in south-eastern Queensland and naturalised overseas in Hawaii and New Zealand.

Notes

California poppy (Eschscholzia californica) is sometimes regarded as an environmental weed in Western Australia, New South Wales and Victoria. This garden escape produces large amounts of seed and if unchecked it can rapidly spread from waste areas and roadsides into adjacent bushland. It is native to the deserts of south-western USA and could replace native ephemeral species if it becomes widespread in the semi-arid and arid regions of southern Australia.

In Western Australia, this species is currently found in waste areas and sandy sites between Perth and Augusta in the south-western parts of the state. For example, it is present along the Capel River and the worst infestation in this region is located close to a conservation area (i.e. the Ironstone Gully Reserve). California poppy (Eschscholzia californica) is also regarded as an invasive annual in Victoria and is listed as a major weed of open habitats and roadsides in the Blue Mountains region in New South Wales.