Himalayan poppies

These are beautiful looking flowers! Are they a hassle to grow though?
Any tips appreciated

 

Meconopsis is the correct name for Himalayan blue poppy.

Meconopsis betonicifolia is the beautiful blue poppy everyone loves. There is probably no other plant that produces such an intense sky-blue flower. Its natural habitat is very altitude alpine meadows in China. Plants do not flower the first year,and they die down in winter, growing and blooming the second year.
If Meconopis is prevented from blomming the first time it sets bids, it is more likely to become perennial. Growing to almost 2m (6.5ft) in its native habitat, in cultivation it is more likely to be 50-70cm(20-28in) high.
Looks best when grown as part of a massed display,or threaded through a border.

Aspect
needs partial,drappled shade;also provide some protection from strong,cutting,drying winds

site
Needs a well-drained soil that is rich in organic matter. In colder regions it grows best in Acid soil.

problems
Overwet soil, especially during winter,will rot the crown. Downy mildew may be a problem in some seasons. Spray plants with a fungicide at the first sign of an attack

season
Abundant flowers begin appearing at the start of Summer

requirement
Remove spent flower stems unless you are waiting for seed to ripen. Once growth dies down,cut it off at ground level

cutting
While they make extermely good cut flowers, they do not last that long.

recommended varieties
meconopis cambrica
m. betonicifolia
m. grandis
m. napaulensis
m. quintuplinervia

 

They are nice, but they flower for such a short period of time that I can't get very enthusiastic about them. I still have one, but I wouldn't replace it if it died.

 

Hi Daisybelle,
I gardened in West Yorkshire up on the pennines for a while, where we had pretty acid soil and lots of WET - they loved it, had them in a raised bed close to a stream and found they would bulk up and I could divide them. Yes the flowering period is fairly short, but they are so stunning when they "do their thing" it's definitely worth it if you can keep them happy.
I've tried them down here (Wiltshire) but even with ericacious compost & mollycoddling they just don't like it - they seem to like a damp climate and my walled garden here is really quite dry. Good luck if you do try them!
Tigerlily

 

ps The ones I had were meconopsis grandis - better than betonicifolia IMO

 

they are definitely beautiful flowers, and I will keep on trying sowing them, in spite of not having had any success in the past