Plant in a location that receives full sun to part shade in well-draining soil an irrigate infrequently. Drought tolerant once established and cold hardy to about 15-20° F. An attractive native shrub for the dry garden. It can be maintained with a nice compact rounded form with light annual pruning.

Dendromecon harfordii is found on Santa Rosa, Santa Cruz, and Santa Catalina Islands off the coast of southern California where it is typically found on dry, rocky slopes and particularly abundant following fires. It previously had been described as a variety of Dendromecon rigida growing on the mainland. The name for the genus comes from the Greek words 'dendron' meaning "tree" and 'mekon' meaning "poppy" and the specific epithet honors William George Willoughby Harford, director of the California Academy of Sciences from 1876 to 1886 and who with fellow botanist Albert Kellogg were the first scientists to collect botanical specimens on Santa Rosa Island in 1872 and on Santa Cruz Island in 1874. Kellogg named this plant to honor his collecting partner in 1873. It is also commonly called Channel Islands Tree Poppy and Harford's Tree Poppy.

We have grown this great California native plant continually since 1989 and maintain large stock plants from which we collect seed. 

The information about Dendromecon harfordii displayed on this web page is based on our research conducted in the nursery's horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We also include observations made about it as it grows in our nursery gardens and other gardens we have visited, as well how the crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments we receive from others and welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they can share cultural information that would aid others in growing this plant.