Dendromecon
( den - droh - MEE - kon )
At-A-Glance InformationAlso called Bush Poppy, Dendromecon is a genus of evergreen shrubs that require full sun and little water. Bush Poppy shrubs have a showy display of yellow flowers, and are great when used on banksides and roadways. These plants are very disease-resistant and will attract butterflies to your garden. These are popular choices for Mediterranean-style and native gardens.
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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) 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) This shrub grows well in 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 and pruning dendromecon shrubs
Bush Poppy does best when planted in full sun exposure in well-draining rocky or clay soil. These shrubs do well planted on sloped areas. They can tolerate heat, salt spray and drought, but need to be protected from strong winds. After flowering fades, trim to keep the shrub looking neat. Prune to increase bushiness before new growth begins in the spring, but do not do too much hard pruning, as this will damage the plant and it will have trouble recovering. Bush Poppy does not need to be fertilized. Provide water every two weeks while the shrub is getting established and during the summer months; once mature, these plants are drought-tolerant.
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
Propagating Dendromecon by Seed
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. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand.
- 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. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand. You will also, after a few weeks, need individual 3-inch pots for each seedling that grows.
- Harvest your seeds.
- 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.
Gallery
Videos
An in-depth video about Dendromecon rigida, including information about how the shrub performs in the natural landscape.
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A video all about Dendromecon rigida harfordii.
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Resources
The New Sunset Western Garden Book: The Ultimate Gardening Guide (2012) - Page 284, Dendromecon (Bush Poppy)
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