[1] It grows in chaparral, oak woodlands, and other habitats, often in places that have recently burned.

Papaver californicum is an annual herb that grows a hairy to hairless stem which may exceed half a meter in height.

The flower atop the mostly naked stem usually has four petals one or two centimeters long that are orange in color with green bases.

Petals of the similar wind poppy (Stylomecon heterophylla) have purple bases.

The seeds, once scattered, can lie dormant for years; smoke acts as a trigger for them to germinate.