Meconopsis

Meconopsis is always a key feature at Gardening Scotland.   It is one of those groups of plants with star quality. Though best known to gardeners as the big blue Himalayan poppies   there are other types. They come from upland areas in China, Tibet, Nepal and Bhutan so   do well in many parts of Scotland though are not so happy in the drier eastern parts of the country. Usually thought of as woodland plants in this country, in the wild they are often found in alpine meadows or even scree slopes but always with adequate moisture in the growing season.

The big  blue flowers of  Meconopis baileyi/betonicifolia and  hybrids  are what attract  most gardeners. Note that there has been considerable confusion over the names of these – for guidance look at the excellent website of the Meconopsis Group.   All meconopsis like cool, humus rich soils with semi shade in the south of the UK. Some are infertile and have to be propagated by division while of those that set seed, such as the very popular cultivar Lingholm, divisions are best so you get   a good form. Meconopsis can be short lived if conditions are not to their liking. Many enthusiasts consider Slieve Donard their favourite classic big blue poppy. Others blues  include  the early and very large Mophead, the slightly purple Barney’s Blue.   Other colour forms in this group include Hensol Violet while Marit is the best white.

The very tall M. napaulensis has attractive rosettes which eventually throw up a giant red or yellow flower spike then die after setting  seed.  The smaller red  M. punicea is also monocarpic but  the duller red M. x cookie Old Rose is perennial. M. quintuplinervia is a very attractive small species with lilac blue flowers sometimes called the harebell poppy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

To obtain any of these plants go to a specialist nursery.

There is one meconopsis that is very easy to grow and can become a weed.  Meconopsis cambrica, the yellow Welsh poppy.  It is native to parts of the UK though very widespread in gardens where an orange form also occurs.   Some botanists now classify it in a different genus, Papaver. Be warned: only plant it where you don’t mind if it self-seeds.