I saved the lovely white Matilija Poppies for last as they are one of my favorite wildflowers. When I was in high school one of my teachers said they were Mariposa Poppies but I have learned (from both my sister Camille and my sister Norma) that these poppies are unique to the Matilija area and are named after the area of their origin; Matilija (pronounced ma-til’li-ha). The plants can reach up to 8 feet tall and boast large snow white blooms with vivid yellow centers.
They have become a lucrative plant for local nurserymen to propagate and ship to other municipalities that wish to include these lovely, papery white blooms into their landscape.
Notice the large seed pods of the Matilija poppy plant?
The large blossoms range from 6 to 9 inches across and are not only impressive in size but command attention with their ruffled white petals and sunshine yellow center.