Himalayan Blue Poppy
The Himalayan blue poppy is simply ideal for the Scottish climate.
Most of us have garden plants which we are not so very fond of, I have never heard anyone say that they didn’t like the blue poppy.
I am not an expert on them, in fact I have only ever grown two varieties of the blue poppy.
The first one introduced to our garden about twenty five years ago was Meconopsis Betonicifolia. The one which I am featuring today is Meconopsis x Sheldonii Lingholm. This is the one that we most often grow, I do have a preference for the habit of Lingholm.
Betonicifolia and Lingholm are probably the two which you would be most likely to see in the garden centres.
Meconopsis prefer a semi shaded spot, this little group of Sheldonii Lingholm I planted in our woodland garden last Autumn.
I have heard it said that it is advisable not to allow Meconopsis to flower in the first year. Apparently you should nip off the flower buds as they start to develop. The idea is that you will end up with a stronger plant in following years by doing so. I am afraid that I don’t quite follow this regime, I do pick off the seed pods as soon as the flowers go over and convince myself that this is all that would be required.
The colour of Meconopsis x Sheldonii Lingholm can only be described as outstanding.
This hybrid apparently appeared in a Cumbrian garden in the 1970s.
Blue Poppies are often said to be difficult to grow. This is not exactly true, its more a case of your climate conditions.
If you happen to be in the very south of England then they may be tricky. On the other hand here in Scotland they are so at home, simply plant them in a position which is semi shaded and the soil moderately rich, moist and free draining and Bobs yer uncle.
You will have gathered that Blue Poppies enjoy cool conditions and although they are said to be a short lived perennial they do last for quite a number of years in the gardens of North East Scotland.
• Hardiness *** Fully hardy
• Position *** Partial shade (woodland)
• Height *** 100cm, little over 3ft
*** Blue poppy ***
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I think that mid June is when the round garden is looking at its very best.
I am linking this post to Dozen for Diana at Elephants eye on False Bay.
If you happen to leave a comment I will be sure to visit your site and do the same
Oh that’s even better! But I never had an aunt named Fanny. Still somehow “Bobs yer uncle and La Verne’s yer aunt” isn’t quite as fun, so I’ll say it your way.
Alistair-
I am in envy of your blue poppies. Poppies are not the easiest to grow in my climate zone. Much too humid and hot. I so want to grow them though and your photos have inspired me. Your round garden is absolutely lovely— so lush and vibrant. I always enjoy visiting your blog….Brenda
Longer blooming period would be a bonus Masha.
Lovely poppies! I like them too although I wish their bloom season was a bit longer. Wonderful garden shots.
Alistair, love this blue! You so rarely see such a dramatic, intense blue in the garden.
Hi Catharine, Crathes Castle Gardens are always worth a visit, travel on the North Deeside road going west from aberdeen I think its only about eight miles from Aberdeen. Also Kildrummy Castle gardens near Alford are very special.
Dear Alistair – aha the holey grail of plants. Alistair I am coming up to Aberdeenshire and the Black Isle next week. Can you recommend me some gardens to visit PLEASE? Thank you Catharine
Rosie, I think Larry was being very generous. The Meconopsis do grow very well in our Aberdeen garden and they would look so much better if I were to create a larger space for them to have more impact. Will be having a look very soon to see what’s going on in your Perthshire garden.
ah it’s your post that Larry was referring to Alistair! I have grown these from seed in one of my previous gardens though I’ve never done so in this garden as I was always afraid that a stray football might knock them down as they are so tall. I’ve got a spot now that they could go into but need to get some organic manure dug in around the soil to give them a good start. I never let them flower the first year Alistair and they were very hungry feeders with me. Your garden looks lovely with that kingfisher blue colour – isn’t it just a pity that they don’t flower longer. I’ve posted loads of photos of these blue poppies in the past few days on my blog as Branklyn hold the national collection and I’ve more photos to share by next weekend with different coloured ones too.
Thanks Kininvie, I will probably save some seed of Lingholm and thanks very much for the offer of Slieve Donard.
Hi Alistair – congrats on the Lingholm; it looks wonderful & is obviously happy. Unless you want to save the seed, I’d cut out the flowering stem once the poppy is over – encourages the new shoots. The Scottish climate is good for the blue poppy, but not all our soil types suit it, I find. That said, shade and damp are the two most important things to provide…
Remind me to send you some Slieve Donard in the Autumn.
That blue on that poppy is gorgeous. I have had no luck growing poppies, but I perhaps I will try again. Your garden appears so lush and full of life. A joy, I am sure, to behold.
No blue poppies in Pennsylvania or delphiniums or lupines either, too hot. Your garden looks lovely.
Hi Alistair, lovely colors you got there. I wish more blues and dark violets can thrive with us!
I love your blue poppy and only wish it would grow in this harsh climate — the temperature has topped 90 the last 3 days. Your round garden is truly stunning! P. x
Your garden is breathtaking just about any time of the year, but June really is special. I love your blue poppy but unfortunately must admire it from afar.
Hi Alistair, I’m very jealous of your blue poppies, I want to grow them too, but I don’t think the climate down here would suit it (though it might this year with the miserable weather we’ve been having). Your garden is looking incredible and so green and lush. I’m beginning to loose control of mine as plants start to go wild and escape the borders.
Hi Alberto, too early in the season for the garden to be at its peek in Scotland but everything is looking lush with foliage. I also enjoy my blog visits and am left stunned at what others achieve.
Wow, everything looks so good! The garden must be at its peak now, summer has arrived there as well!
Blue poppies are something that, every year when I see them flowering trough other’s people blogs, always leave me mouth open. There’s some magic in that blue, something you get lost into.
b-a-g, I think I could comfortably fit some red poppies into my scheme. Its true enough, even with the lawn trimmed it never looks right until the edges have been tidied up.
Thanks Linnie, the weather has been particularly good this last three weeks or so. I wonder if you have killed as many blue poppies as I have with the Magnolias. If you are feeling totally euphoric about something the full expression is (Bobs yer uncle and Fannys yer Aunt.)
Alistair, I am in love with your garden!
Wow it’s all like a dream garden Alistair! I hope your weather is allowing for lots of time outside to enjoy. I’ve never seen a blue poppy blooming in a garden here, but I never miss an opportunity to buy one at a nursery and take it home and kill it. Actually it’s been a few years since the last such death so I might be ready to regroup–you and Kininvie are such inspiration.
I loved ‘Bob’s yer uncle’– an expression that is completely new to me. And I actually used to have an uncle named Bob. I never associated him with things going particularly well, but he will certainly help me remember the saying.
Your blue poppies are stunners compared to my common red ones. Your post reminded me it’s really worth the effort to edge a lawn – yes, the round garden looks wonderful.
Thank you Jennifer, I guess its all relative, I mean I used to think my pictures were quite good until I got into the habit of reading other blogs, then I tried harder, although editing plays a big part. Our back garden consists of five separate gardens and gives reasonable scope for plants, although we never seem to have enough room.
I don’t know if I have remarked on this before Alastair, but I find that there has been a huge improvement in the quality of photography from the early days of my visits to your blog. You have become quite handy with a camera and your pictures are really nicely done.
Your garden is looking as nice as ever. I am always amazed at how much you have packed into a small space and how tidy it still manages to look.
I think I may give blue poppies a try. I have a fair bit of woodland and maybe they might do well.
Oh my, and I talk of my mothers dementia. Job done now Diana.
I agree, everyone seeing a blue poppy would be taken with this plant. Your round garden is lovely in June, very lush and elegant too.
yes, you’ve read both my posts. But for the June plant meme, I would appreciate the ‘link love’ within your post. That’s if you are joining my meme?
Must check it out Jordan.
Diana, Felicia, we used to grow on a lot of them, good for summer pots and baskets.
I never forget the blue poppy I saw growing in a Swiss cousin’s garden. Happily at home with snowy mountains around.
Alistair? If you add a link to my post http://eefalsebay.blogspot.com/2013/06/garlic-buchu.html and mention Dozen for Diana … I’ll link you in there too. Thank you for bringing a blue flower that makes my heart sing with our kingfisher blue Felicia daisy.
Thanks for your comment. Your round garden is lovely. And of course, the poppies are stunning. I recently started volunteering at the ornamental border at Bradner Gardens Park. You might be interested to see the blog I started. http://ornamentalborder.blogspot.com/
Rick, the meconopsis cambrica of course found its own way into our garden, Myry loves them. Unknown to her I do keep them in check or we would be overrun. Myra doesn’t know that I do this, (well she will do now)
Donna, when I see a flowering plant such as the blue meconopsis my first thought would normally have been that they would prefer a warmer climate than ours. Strangely they seem to embrace dreich weather. (well its not like that all the time)
Helene, the position you talk of may well suit the blue poppies. They are in bloom for about three weeks up here.
Gorgeous blue colour.
Those are pretty blue poppies you have there. Sadly, not for my climate at all.
Alistair, your round garden looks lovely!
I have been thinking of planting Meconopsis, didn’t realise that they perhaps would not like the London climate, but the cold weather we have had the last few years would probably be ideal anyway then? I am hunting for tall plants with a small footprint, from photos I have seen, Meconopsis would fit into that category? How long do they flower in your garden? I have a semi shady spot with acid, rich soil that doesn’t dry out and when I redesign this bed in the autumn I will have room for quite a lot of new plants.
I think you are right..that round garden is fabulous and your pictures make it snap…I have always admired blue poppies but don’t think they would like my climate or soil…but I do love where you planted yours.
Great pictures as always Alistair. Whether or not you take of the flower buds in the first year to encourage sturdier plants seems to be debatable and I think stems from the fact that many species of Meconopsis are monocarpic, I leave most of my seed-heads on but I do grow some from seed every year as replacements for the inevitable losses usually associated with winter damp. It is great to see you use Meconopsis cambrica and what looks like Alchemilla (I may be wrong), so many people look down on them and yet they are both so good if kept in check. They are particularly useful for those shadier positions where the soil is not too good.
Hi Frances, must be really annoying the delivery to mainland only.
your poppies are beautiful Alistair, I checked out the nursery but it’s yet another nursery that only delivers to the mainland,
I like your round garden it looks nice and inviting, a sort of private hidden garden, Frances
M & G doesn’t take an awful lot of heat to get things going.
Hi Larry, this cool climate comes in handy on occasions.
Nothing can compare with a walled garden Kat.
Angie, I have had the white variety in the past, I think it would look good alongside the blue.
Alistair, what a lovely section of your garden you’ve shown us here. It is filled with some lovely plants. That splash of Orange is certainly eyecatching!
Best not forget to mention your mecs. I’ve read the advice of not letting them flower in the first year – but I just don’t have the patience to do that! I’m trying a white flowering one in this garden for the first time. I used to be successful with them in a previous garden. Yours are gorgeous and I agree, never heard anyone say they don’t like them or covet them for that matter!
Much of the gardening world stands in awe, as we salivate over your ability to grow this, the holy grail of the plant kingdom… Larry
Its so beautiful Alistair .
We have them growing up in the walled garden restoration project at Glamis Castle.
I am a volunteer there on Tue and Thurs with my friend we started in Feb of this year and been just us 2 but now this week we have a 3rd volunteer come join us.
If you are ever in the area pop up to see us in our playground microclimate.
Alistair your blue poppies are stunning.
We have them growing in the walled garden restoration project at Glamis Castle where Iam a volunteer.
If you are ever in the area do pop up to see us .
We the 2 volunteers are there Tue and Thursdays since Feb .
Our 3rd volunteer joined our team this past week.
Its a real micro climate.
Your garden is looking gorgeous Alistair, hooray for June!