Meconopsis 'Mop-head'
(Himalayan Blue Poppy 'Mop-Head')

Family - Papaveraceae
Category - Perennial
Discovered By - Liz Young
Year of Introduction - 2007
Season of Interest - Spring, Summer
Hardiness - H5
Height - 1m
Width - 45cm
Location - The Stream Area

Description: Fertile Blue Group of Meconopsis

A herbaceous Perennial with a clump-forming habit. Pale to mid-green leaves are lanceolate, oblong or Elliptic in shape. The foliage and the flower buds are covered in copper-coloured bristles. Large, outward-facing flowers are bright azure blue with hints of violet. At the centre of each Bloom is a showy cluster of delicate, white stamens with golden Anthers and a proud, white to pale green stigma. The flowers are held singly atop upright stems and are produced from late spring into early summer. The flowers are followed by long thin, bristly seed Capsules that bear little viable seed.

Award of Garden Merit (AGM).

Flower:

Large, outward-facing flowers are bright azure blue with hints of violet. At the centre of each bloom is a prominent cluster of white stamens with golden anthers and a proud, white to pale green stigma. The flowers are held singly atop upright stems and are produced in May and June (one of the earliest in the group of Meconopsis to flower). The flowers are followed by bristly seed capsules that contain a small quantity of viable seed.

Flower colour: Blue

Flower shape: Saucer-shaped flowers held singly

Flowering time: May, June

Foliage:

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

Foliage Senescence: Deciduous

Foliage Shape: Lanceolate, oblong, elliptic

Propagation:

Division.

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.