Mexican gold poppies around Picacho Peak

Eschscholzia californica subsp. mexicana

Mexican gold poppies usually bloom from mid-January to mid-April around Picacho Peak, with the best color from late February into late March.

mid-January – mid-April Best: late February into late March Out of season

The show usually starts around mid-January. Check back closer to the season.

Based on reports from iNaturalist naturalists. 280 flowering reports from Pinal County shape this curve. The shaded band marks the best weeks; the dashed line is this week.

Where to see them

Arizona's poppy show climbs the flanks of Picacho Peak between Phoenix and Tucson. Good years start as early as late February — earlier than almost anything in California.

Picacho Peak State Park
Catalina State Park
Lost Dutchman State Park

We name public reserves, parks, and roads only — never exact pins, never private land.

Updated August 14, 2026. Bloom timing varies with the year's weather — the curve shows the usual rhythm, and in-season updates sharpen it.