Dendromecon

( den - droh - MEE - kon )

At-A-Glance Information

Also called Bush Poppy, Dendromecon is a genus of evergreen shrubs composed of species require full sun and little water. Bush Poppy shrubs produce a showy display of yellow flowers in spring and summer, and are ideal for using on banksides to control erosion and along roadways. These plants are very disease-resistant and will attract butterflies and other pollinators to the garden. These are popular choices for Mediterranean-style and native gardens, growing well in mixed beds and borders, as specimen plants, or in non-irrigated areas of the landscape.

dendromecon species and Varietals

Dendromecon is a genus of two species in the family Papaveraceae. Bush Poppy growing zones vary by species; for more information, see the descriptions below. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.

Dendromecon harfordii (Dendromecon rigida harfordii) (Island Bush Poppy, Harford's Tree Poppy, Channel Islands Tree Poppy)
Grows best in zones 7-9 and 14-24, this Channel Islands native shrub grows to 8-20 feet tall and wide, depending on pruning activities. Leaves are a deep green and flowers bloom from early spring through summer, with other sporadic blooms throughout the year. Shape and prune after blooms are spent to neaten appearance.

Dendromecon rigida (Bush Poppy, Tree Poppy)
This shrub grows well in USDA hardiness zones 6-10 or Sunset growing zones 4-12 and 14-24. Habit is a bit untidy, and gets to about 4-8 feet tall and 4-6 feet wide. Bark is yellowish-gray or white. Leaves are thick and veiny grayish green. Flowers appear in the springtime. After blooming, this shrub should be cut back to about 2 feet tall to discourage legginess.

Caring for dendromecon

Plant Dendromecon, or Bush Poppy, in a space in the landscape that receives full sun; ideally, these shrubs appreciate between 6 and 8 hours of sun each day for the best blooms and overall growth rate. They grow well on sloped areas, and can handle heat stress and salt spray. Protect from strong winds. Ensure that soil is well-draining, rich in nutrients, and has a pH of between 6.0 and 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral). These shrubs grow naturally in rocky or clay soils. If local soils are particularly poor in nutrients or do not drain well, make sure to amend the planting area with plenty of organic compost before installing. Apply a layer of mulch around the planting area to suppress weed growth, maintain consistent soil temperatures, and to increase soil moisture retention.

Water new plantings regularly as they establish a strong root system in their new home. At maturity, these plants are considered very drought-tolerant, able to get by on rainwater alone for most of the year with supplemental waterings during extended periods of drought. Bush Poppy does not need to be fertilized. Pruning is simple; remove any damaged, diseased, or dead foliage after blooms fade. Before new growth begins in the springtime, prune back to increase a bushier habit to form; do not hard-prune these shrubs, as they have trouble recovering. Dendromecon can survive for between 6 and 10 years in the landscape before needing to be replaced; they are fast growing shrubs, however, and replacements will fill back in quickly.

Propagation

Bush Poppy can be propagated either by using cuttings or from seed. To ensure that your propagated plant will have the exact same qualities and characteristics as the parent plant, use the cutting method. If you would like to experiment and see what plant you can grow from seed, just keep in mind that it will not necessarily be the same as the parent plant. To propagate your shrub, follow the instructions below:

Propagating Dendromecon by Cutting

Gather your materials. You'll need a clean, sanitized, sharp pair of garden shears, rooting hormone, a pencil, and a 3-inch pot filled with well-draining compost or other organic material. A good substrate for propagation of cuttings is a light blend of 1/3 pasteurized soil or compost, 1/3 sand, vermiculite or perlite, and 1/3 coconut coir or peat moss.
In summertime, choose the plant that you'd like to propagate. Ensure that this plant has had a good watering the night before, as this will improve the chances your cutting will take root. Cut one or more 6 inch softwood portion(s) of the end of a non-blooming branch and strip the leaves off of the lower half. Make a hole in your planting medium by pushing your pencil into the soil. Dip the end of the stem in rooting hormone, and plant it in your pot. Fill in soil around the cutting to support it, but do not pack it down too much.
Moisten with water, and ensure that the pot has good drainage. Your pot should be kept in warm, sunny conditions indoors (and not in direct sunlight). Water whenever your soil is dry under the top layer. After about four to six weeks have passed, your cutting should be rooted. When you notice new growth on your propagated shrub, you'll know you have roots.
Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring, when you can transplant it to its new home. Ensure that the last frost of the year has occurred before doing this, as it can seriously damage your new shrub.

Propagating Dendromecon by Seed

Keep in mind that the Bush Poppy plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant. To propagate by seed, you will need a paper bag, a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. The best potting medium for seed germination is a light blend of 1/3 pasteurized soil or compost, 1/3 sand, vermiculite or perlite, and 1/3 coconut coir or peat moss.
Harvest your seeds. Dendromecon seeds are contained inside of capsule-shaped seed pods
In spring or fall, water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place your seeds in your prepared pot or seed tray about a quarter inch to a half-inch under the soil surface. Cover them with soil and water with your spray bottle. Place your tray of seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Germination usually takes 7-14 days from sowing. Once you begin to see seedlings sprout and they are able to be handled, transplant them to their own individual 3-inch pots, filled with the same potting medium as described in Step 1. Loosen the seedlings from the potting medium by digging down with the tines of your fork about an inch and a half, gently working the seedling up until it is out. Then, replant the seedling in its individual pot.
Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 50 and 55 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when you can transplant it to its new home.

Problems and Pests

Bush Poppy does not suffer from any pest or disease issues. For information on commonly-encountered pests and diseases in the home garden, consult the following pages:

Pests & Pest Management

Plant Issues