California State Flower History:

The Poppy, used both as a source of fool and oil extracted from the plant, was a valuable resource for California Indians. Eschsholtzia Californica, was the scientific name given to the Poppy by Adelbert Von Chamisso. Adelbert, who was a naturalist and a member of the Prussian Academy of Sciences, dropped anchor in a bay surrounded by hills of golden flowers. That bay happened to be what we now call San Francisco bay. Also known as the flame flower, the Poppy became the California state flower in 1903. The Poppy is such a part of California that is has its own day and week. April 6 th is California Poppy Day, while May 13-18 was proclaimed Poppy Week in 1996 by Governor Wilson.