About
A short-lived perennial about 1m tall, forming a rosette of oval, hairy leaves suffused with red-purple when young. The seed capsules, covered in bristly hairs, are decorative but contain no viable seed. In summer, erect, leafy stems bear a cluster of deep clear blue poppies with slightly ruffled petals and contrasting yellow stamens.
About the genus
Meconopsis can be annuals, biennials, evergreen or herbaceous perennials, often monocarpic, with rosettes of hairy leaves and bowl-shaped flowers that may be solitary on a leafless stem, or in racemes or panicles on a leafy stem
Growing conditions
SunlightPartial shade
Soil typeClay, Loam
Soil pHAcid, Neutral
Soil moistureMoist but well-drained
AspectEast-facing, West-facing
ExposureSheltered
UK hardinessH5
Plant details
Plant typeHerbaceous Perennial
HabitClump forming
FoliageDeciduous
Height1-1.5 metres
Spread0.1-0.5 metres
Time to full height2-5 years
Suggested usesCottage and informal garden
Care notes
CultivationGrow in dappled shade in humus rich, slightly acidic soil with good drainage and protection from drying winds. Thrives in areas with cool damp summers; best planted in soil that does not dry out in summer or get waterlogged in winter
PruningCut back spent flower stems
PropagationPropagate by division; this cultivar does not produce viable seed
Pest resistanceMay be susceptible to slugs, snails and aphids
Disease resistanceMay be susceptible to downy mildews