Platystemon californicus
An annual wildflower in the Papaveraceae with cream-to-white petals, wind-pollinated, thriving in open disturbed soils across western North America, drought-tolerant, and reseeds readily.
Common Names
Cream Cups, Creamcups, California Cream Cups
Summary
Creamcups are an annual herb native to Oregon, California, Arizona, Utah, and Baja California, occurring in open grasslands and sandy or disturbed soils. They form a branching, low-growing plant about 2–12 inches tall with basal, linear to lanceolate leaves; flowers arise on long peduncles and are cream to white (sometimes with pale yellow tips), often fragrant, with six petals and many stamens. Blooming occurs in early spring, and plants can reseed after dropping seeds, helping persistence through seasons.
Propagation is by seed sown directly in spring; plants prefer full sun and well-drained soils, thriving in light, loamy, sandy, or even clay conditions with pH ranging from acidic to basic. They require light water and tend to be pest- and disease-free; they are used ornamentally and for revegetation in disturbed areas, and leaves have been eaten as greens when cooked.
Lifecycle
Annual
Height
1-12 inches
Spread
4-8 inches
Hardiness Zones
Zone 8
Sunlight Requirements
Ideally full sun. Tolerates partial shade.
Soil Type
Well-drained sandy or loamy soil
Soil Drainage
Well-drained soil
Soil pH
5.8-8.2
Bloom Color
Cream, white, or yellow blooms (often cream-white to yellow; cream-yellow blends)
Bloom Time
Spring
Foliage Color
Green
Fall Foliage Color
Gray-green
Leaf Lifecycle
Deciduous
Growth Rate
Fast
Seasons of Interest
Spring, Summer, Fall
Propagation Methods
Seeds
Attracts Wildlife
Attracts bees
Taxonomy
- Taxonomic Rank
- Species
- Author
- Benth.
- Publication
- Trans. Hort. Soc. London , ser. 2, 1: 405 (1834 publ. 1835)
Superior Taxa
- Kingdom
- Plantae
- Subkingdom
- Pteridobiotina
- Phylum
- Angiosperms
- Order
- Ranunculales
- Family
- Papaveraceae
- Subfamily
- Papaveroideae
- Tribe
- Platystemoneae
- Genus
- Platystemon
Synonyms
Platystemon communis Platystemon aculeolatus Platystemon acutatus Platystemon antoninus Platystemon arvorum Platystemon capsularis Platystemon cernuus Platystemon confinis Platystemon commixtus Platystemon obtectus Platystemon loesenerianus Platystemon mendocinus Platystemon microlobus Platystemon leiocarpus Platystemon pectinatus Platystemon penicillatus Platystemon nigricans Platystemon hallii Platystemon contortus Platystemon crenatus Platystemon elegans Platystemon leucanthus Platystemon glyptolobus Platystemon leptander Platystemon heterander Platystemon hyacinthinus Platystemon intermedius Platystemon purpuratus Platystemon exsculptus Platystemon pilosellus Platystemon villosus Platystemon tessellatus Platystemon quercetorum Platystemon remotus Platystemon rugosus Platystemon setosus Platystemon sphaerocarpus Platystemon tortuosus Platystemon turbinatus Platystemon verecundus Platystemon subereus Platystemon californicus var. ciliatus Platystemon californicus var. crinitus Platystemon californicus var. horridulus Platystemon californicus var. nutans Platystemon arizonicus Platystemon australis Platystemon mohavensis Platystemon crinitus Platystemon horridulus Platystemon nutans Platystemon ornithopus Platystemon anemonoides Platystemon proximus Platystemon petrinus Platystemon emarginatus Platystemon hispidulus Platystemon rigidulus Platystemon termini Platystemon tympaniferus Boothia californica Platystemon californicus var. ornithopus Platystemon californicus var. californicus