The California poppy reproduces from seeds, and will reach 12 to 18 inches tall with silky, vibrant flowers extending approx. 2 inches across. Poppies are pollinated by beetles. After pollination, blooms fall way to seed pods that eventually dry and split open, dropping seeds. Seeds will lay dormant through the winter and then grow the following spring or they can be collected for later planting.
The seeds are loose and blow off with the wind.
the actual flower petals fall off, do not cut because the center of the flower will continue grow longer. it is filling with seeds. cut the long center off after it turns brown, open it and it will be full of little black seeds. i discovered this by accident. in the wild it pops open and the wind will blow the little seeds around. for your own seeds off your own poppies cut before it pops open and you will have a very big collection of your own seeds.
The flowers are pollinated by insects and then as above.