Curators Corner – Dendromecon harfordii
Dendromecon harfordii commonly known as the Channel Island tree poppy, is an evergreen shrub endemic to California. It displays satiny, bright, butter-yellow flowers and blue-green leaves frame the blossoms.
Profile
Scientific name: Dendromecon harfordii
Family: Papaveraceae
Environment: Full to part sun, well-draining soil, drought-tolerant, occasional watering
Bloom: March – November; Showiest April – July
Plant type: Shrub
Uses: Ornamental, Erosion Control
Location: San Francisco Botanical Garden‘s California Native Plant Garden, 31A, 34D, and near the Main Office, 1A
There are only ~230 recorded wild observations of Dendromecon harfordii in its native habitat, giving it a 3.2 rank on the California Rare Plant Rank.
Dendromecon harfordii, commonly known as the Channel Island tree poppy, is an evergreen shrub endemic to California. It was once considered a subspecies of Dendromecon rigida but has since been separated; the two are now the only species within the Dendromecon genus. Unlike its sibling, which is found abundantly throughout California and northwest Mexico, D. harfordii is restricted to only four of the five Channel Islands off the coast of southern California: San Clemente, Santa Rosa, Santa Cruz, and Santa Catalina Islands. It inhabits the California coastal sage scrub and chapparal ecosystems, and is typically found on exposed slopes, dry bluffs, and canyons under 600m. It’s also a known fire-follower. Although it can be sourced commercially, there are only ~230 recorded wild observations of D. harfordii in its native habitat (D. rigida has 2,484 observations for comparison), giving it a 3.2 rank on the California Rare Plant Rank, “plants about which we need more information; fairly threatened in California.”
Between the two species, D. harfordii is considered more ornamental. It’s larger, easier to grow, fills in quickly to a size of 2-6m, and features a longer blooming period spanning from March to November. Its showiest time of the year occurs between April and July, when it puts on a display of satiny, bright, butter-yellow flowers that are solitary and terminal, rather than clustered. Its four petals emerge from two sepals that are shed when they bloom, a characteristic of the poppy (Papaveraceae) family which it belongs to. Glaucus, blue-green leaves frame the blossoms, and offer a soothing backdrop with their elliptic to oblong-ovate shape, smooth margins, rounded apex, and slightly pointed tip.
Channel Island tree poppy (Dendromecon harfordii)
The story behind D. harfordii’s specific epithet takes us back in time, to shortly before William George Willoughby Harford was the director of California Academy of Science (1876 – 1886). Harford and fellow botanist, Albert Kellogg (founding member of the Cal Academy, and whom Quercus kelloggii was named in honor of) were the first scientists to collect botanical specimens from Santa Rosa and Santa Cruz Islands. In 1873, Kellogg named D. harfordii plant in honor of his friend and collecting partner.
The San Francisco Botanic Garden has had Dendromecon harfordii in its collections from as early as 1961, today there are only several. Young and new to the garden, these four can be found in some of the sunniest locations, prompting an exciting opportunity to see them grow and flourish. See if you can spot their vibrant blooms in the following beds:
- 31A – California – 2024-0109*A
- 34D – California – 2024-0109*B
- 1A – Exterior Perimeter, near the Main Office – 2024-0109*D
Credit for photos: Tory Stewart and Royal Jenkins
