Bloomipedia
Mojave poppy (Eschscholzia glyptosperma)
Photo: Wendy McCrady via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized

Flower profile

Mojave poppy

Eschscholzia glyptosperma

Native to Nevada

Mojave poppy is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. In Nevada it's most often seen in bloom in February–May.

4states
403NV sightings*
1,010U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: Nevada

Quick look

Eschscholzia glyptosperma is a species of poppy known by the common names desert gold poppy, desert golden poppy, and Mojave poppy.

  • It belongs to the Papaveraceae family. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) with a annual life cycle. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 4 states. USDA PLANTS
  • NatureServe lists it as native to Nevada. NatureServe
  • In Nevada, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in February–May. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 403 research-grade sightings of it in Nevada, ranking #102 among the 110 flowers on our Nevada list. iNaturalist

Mojave poppy gift ideas

Handmade mojave poppy gifts from independent makers.

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When does it bloom?

In Nevada, most flowering sightings come in February–May.

Flowering records by month in Nevada (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (138 records)

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA)
Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
NatureServe global
G4 Apparently secure worldwide. NatureServe
Nevada
Not listed Not on Nevada fully protected plants, critically endangered (NAC 527.010). NatureServe: S4, apparently secure in Nevada. NAC 527.010
Rare elsewhere
Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: UT (S2). (S1 critically imperiled, S2 imperiled, SH possibly extirpated, SX presumed extirpated.)

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Can you eat it?

For peopleNot well documented

None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no page for this plant), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people.

For petsNot well documented

It isn't on the ASPCA plant list.

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records mojave poppy in 4 states.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Arizona, California, Nevada, Utah.

Nevada counties with USDA records: Clark, Lincoln, Nye.

More Nevada flowers

Flatbud prickly poppy (Argemone munita)

Flatbud prickly poppy

Argemone munita

Native

🌼 Blooms in NV: April–August
Las vegas bear-poppy (Arctomecon californica)

Las vegas bear-poppy

Arctomecon californica

Native

🌼 Blooms in NV: March–May
Creosote bush (Larrea tridentata)

Creosote bush

Larrea tridentata

Native

🌼 Blooms in NV: March–June

Sources