Taxonomy

Division:

Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants

Family:

Papaveraceae

Genus:

Romneya

Species:

Romneya coulteri

USDA Symbol:

ROCO

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:

Perennial

Growth Habit:

Shrub , Subshrub

Height:

250 cm

Light Requirements:

Full Sun

Drought Tolerance:

High

Bloom Months:

may,jun,jul,aug

Bloom Colors:

white

Landscaping Shrub:

Yes

Wildlife Benefits

Bees:

★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)

Butterflies & Moths:

★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)

Reported Fauna Sightings

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:

bees, butterflies

Deer Resistant:

Yes

Fragrant:

Yes

Fire Ecology:

Requires fire for germination

Fire Notes:

Smoke treatment significantly enhances seed germination. Resprouts vigorously from rhizomes after fire; often colonizes burned or disturbed areas in native chaparral habitat.

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:

poor, sandy, well-drained soil

pH:

6.0 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)

Drainage:

excellent drainage required

Moisture:

dry to moderate

Notes:

Thrives in nutrient-poor soils; avoid rich soils

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:

Cold/moist stratification required — 30–90 days

Germination Time:

30–180 days

Notes:

Seeds are notoriously difficult to germinate; smoke treatment or gibberellic acid may improve germination rates. Root cuttings are more reliable for propagation.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI