Meconopsis grandis
(Himalayan Blue Poppy)

Family - Papaveraceae
Category - Perennial
Origin - Himalayas, Nepal to Bhutan and Tibet
Year of Introduction - 1895
Season of Interest - Spring, Summer
Hardiness - H5
Height - 80cm
Width - 45cm
Location - The Stream Area

Description: A herbaceous Perennial with a clump-forming habit. Pale to mid-green leaves vary in shape from oblong to Elliptic or lanceolate with coarsely toothed margins. The foliage and flower buds are covered in copper-coloured bristles. Large, nodding to outward-facing flowers are bowl to saucer-shaped and can be found in varying shades including rich azure blue, white, purple or reddish-pink. Each Bloom can reach 15cm across. At the centre of each flower is a showy cluster of stamens with golden Anthers and a proud, white or green stigma. The flowers are held singly atop upright stems and are produced from late spring into midsummer.

Flower:

Large, nodding to outward-facing flowers are bowl to saucer-shaped and may vary in colour from azure blue, to purple, white or reddish-pink. Each bloom can reach to 15cm across, and has a prominent central cluster of white stamens with golden anthers and a proud, pale green to white stigma. The blooms are held singly atop upright stems and are produced from May into July. The flowers are followed by oblong seed capsules that can be smooth, or covered in bristles (depending on the specimen). Generally, plants derived from stock collected in Eastern Nepal will be in shades of purple or pink, whereas stock derived from Bhutan and Tibet will be in shades of blue.

Flower colour: Blue, Pink, White, or Purple

Flower shape: Bowl to saucer-shaped flowers held singly

Flowering time: May, June, July

Foliage:

Pale to mid-green leaves are lanceolate, oblong, or Elliptic in shape with Dentate margins. The foliage is covered in copper-coloured bristles. The leaves are held upright at the base of the plant and in opposite pairs on the flowering stems.

Foliage Senescence: Deciduous

Foliage Shape: Lanceolate, oblong or elliptic

Propagation:

Division, seed.

Cultivation:

Best in partial shade in moist, acidic soil with good drainage. This meconopsis prefers a position that stays relatively cool during the summer months.