Matilija Poppy has the biggest flower of any California Native plant, and with a sweet, fruity fragrance when in bloom it’s easy to see why this Ventura County local is one of our most popular plants……But hold on, Cowgirl!! This plant is NOT for everyone, as it can take its sweet time to get going, but once it does, watch out! Matilija Poppy spreads underground and can form huge colonies, making it a bad choice for smaller gardens, unless you are willing to fight it like a new sales tax. Instead, use its amazing drought-tolerance (bone dry is perfect) and spreading habit to your advantage; Try it on a hill for erosion control or in big, dry gardens as a backdrop to other low water plants. Best planted between November and April, especially in hotter areas. Roots of this plant are very fragile, handle gently when planting. Bees love the flowers!!