California poppy is a perennial or annual plant growing to 5–12 in (13–30 cm) tall^[2] with alternately branching glaucous blue-green foliage. The leaves are alternately divided into round, lobed segments. The flowers are solitary on long stems, silky-textured, with four petals, each petal 2 to 6 cm (0.79 to 2.36 in) long and broad; flower color ranges through yellow, orange and red.^[3] Flowering occurs from February to September in the northern hemisphere. The petals close at night (or in cold, windy weather) and open again the following morning, although they may remain closed in cloudy weather.^[4] The fruit is a slender, dehiscent capsule 3 to 9 cm (1.2 to 3.5 in) long, which splits in two, sometimes explosively with an audible snap, to release numerous small 1.5–1.8 mm (0.059–0.071 in) wide black or dark brown seeds.^[5] It survives mild winters in its native range, dying completely in colder climates.