Confined to western North America, the Creamcups wildflower, or Cream Cups (Platystemon californicus), is found in most California counties except for those in the Great Basin and Mojave desert regions. This dainty native wildflower is fairly common in Mendocino County including the UC Hopland Research & Extension Center.
In the family Papaveraceae, this springtime annual wildflower is many times out-competed by exotic annuals, so it is a botanist's delight to see them amongst the rangeland vegetative composition. This gardners delight used to be included in wildflower seed mixes, but is no longer included due to high costs of growing and collecting seed. In the wilds, it can be found in oak woodland, coastal sage scrub, chaparral, and Valley grasslands habitats.
