Taxonomy

Division:

Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants

Family:

Papaveraceae

Genus:

Dendromecon

Species:

Dendromecon rigida

USDA Symbol:

DERI

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:

Perennial

Growth Habit:

Shrub , Tree

Height:

300 cm

Light Requirements:

Full Sun

Drought Tolerance:

High

Bloom Months:

mar,apr,may,jun

Bloom Colors:

yellow

Landscaping Shrub:

Yes

Wildlife Benefits

Bees:

★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)

Butterflies & Moths:

★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)

Caterpillars:

★☆☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)

Host Plant for Caterpillars

Reported Fauna Sightings

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:

bees, butterflies

Deer Resistant:

Yes

Fire Ecology:

Requires fire for germination

Fire Notes:

Seeds exhibit smoke-stimulated germination. Plants resprout vigorously from the root crown after fire and are adapted to chaparral fire regimes.

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:

rocky, well-drained, nutrient-poor soil

pH:

6.0 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)

Drainage:

excellent drainage required

Moisture:

dry to moderate

Notes:

native to chaparral and coastal sage scrub habitats

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:

Cold/moist stratification required — 30–90 days

Germination Time:

30–90 days

Notes:

Seeds benefit from fire or smoke treatment; germination can be erratic. Best sown in fall for natural cold stratification.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI