Flowers are organized alphabetically by genus and species. Hover over a photo series to control the images.

California Poppy (Eschscholzia californica)

In Albuquerque, California poppies are a garden plant. They qualify for this web page by virtue of existing in the wild in southern New Mexico. Even there, however, they're an introduced species.

Long-Headed Poppy, Blindeyes (Papaver dubium)

Like corn poppies (below), long-headed poppies (or blindeyes) are an Old World species. In the Albuquerque area they sometimes escape, but otherwise you're not likely to see this as a wildflower in New Mexico. When I do see an escaped red poppy, usually it's a corn poppy.

Common or Corn Poppy (Papaver rhoeas)

On a hike in May 2020, I discovered that this Old World poppy has begun to colonize the Elena Gallegos Open Space in the Sandia foothills. In less harsh settings, corn poppies can be a knee-high plant with many-petaled flowers. When left to fend for themselves in our dry climate, they're a low plant and make do with four petals arranged in a cross.