Blue Poppy
Garden Forum -> Archive Quickie
Posted by: Audwoman
Vireya, you mention growing this plant and its beauty. Anyone else every attempt to grow this poppy?
I have seen it only in garden books and I am nit positive but I think I saw it in Alaska this year.
My questions are:
Do you have acid ?
Do you have Alkaline (sp?)
What would you consider your type of soil? sandy, clay, Humus. Rocky?
Do you think they are hardy to temps much below freezing?
I have considered buying the plant not the seeds but they are expensive 16-20 for one plant.
The plant I saw in Alaska was a gorgeous blue looking poppy this was in Anchorage they get very cold so I am not positive it was a Blue Poppy if they do not like freezing temps.
Posted by: Vireya
Audwoman nice to meet you.
Blue poppies prefer acid conditions that are slightly dry, they naturally come from the Himalaya's, so I don't know if they will grow in Iceland. In Scotland they are perfectly hardy. Most people get them wrong because they give them to much sun, like the normal poppies.
Posted by: boo
I spent a fortune on seed two years ago and not one germinated. I was very disappointed. I might have been sold bum seed, not sure but I read that my area may be too hot/humid for the poppy to flourish anyway. I would like to try again sometime. Until then I will grow every color but blue.
Let me know how it works for you guys that are growing them.
Posted by: Rowan
My knowledge of the Meconopsis family is purely hypothetical as I have yet to try them. But I have done some research as I just love them.
As I understand it I am actually right on the edge of being almost too warm for the blue poppy who's other name is the Tibetan or Himalayan Poppy. Although some places claim that they will grow as far south as zone 8a... I think that it would have to be in the deep shade though as even zone 5 growing recommendations say to keep cool and in moist shady spot. These are a northern woodland-type poppy.
From what I understand they prefer humus rich and neutral to slightly acidic soils somewhere around 6.1 - 6.5 being recommended (not sure if the acid level will affect the intensity of the blue or not). Recommended planting companions include Solomon's Seal, Cranesbill, Rhododendron, and Lungwort.
They are perennial and like to be kept cool and moist and if you are in a dryish area will need to be watered daily (or so I have read). Also the dryer they are the more likely they are to die back immediately after their first flowering.
Thompson and Morgan has the best selection of seeds that I have seen offered for Blue poppies and also offer several other in the Meconopsis family such as the Welsh Poppy. They are not cheap though.
The blue poppy ranks second on a Best Alaskan Flowers of 2004 list ..... Delphiniums came first but then they grow 'em 10 ft. up there (Boo, we really need a little green-with-jealousy smilie!)
Meconopsis were also the Royal Hort society's flower of the month a while back.
Posted by: masja63
Meconopsis is a very difficult plant.
The seeds germinate easily (if you keep them in a fridge for a few weeks) but mature very difficult.
When you have a plant that matures. DON'T LET IT FLOWER IN THE FIRST YEAR.
I know it sounds very dramatic.
But when it doesn't have the chance to flower in its first year, the chance is much bigger that it will survive and becomes a perennial.
They are monocarpic, don't mind the frost that much (since they come from the Himalayans) but they Hate wet feet in the winter.
They are truly wonderful but difficult plants, I had one for 3 years but then it died on me.
Posted by: MrSeedy
I've always heard that they're very difficult in most areas of the U.S. as they hate really hot dry summers, and overly cold wet winters. They're generally only considered somewhat reliable in the Pacific Northwest and B.C. I could see one dieing on me the first time we hit 95 F in the summer!!! I do think they're beautiful and worth a try as long as you don't set your hopes to high!!!
Posted by: Audwoman
Vireya, you mention growing this plant and its beauty. Anyone else every attempt to grow this poppy?
I have seen it only in garden books and I am nit positive but I think I saw it in Alaska this year.
My questions are:
Do you have acid ?
Do you have Alkaline (sp?)
What would you consider your type of soil? sandy, clay, Humus. Rocky?
Do you think they are hardy to temps much below freezing?
I have considered buying the plant not the seeds but they are expensive 16-20 for one plant.
The plant I saw in Alaska was a gorgeous blue looking poppy this was in Anchorage they get very cold so I am not positive it was a Blue Poppy if they do not like freezing temps.
Posted by: Vireya
Audwoman nice to meet you.
Blue poppies prefer acid conditions that are slightly dry, they naturally come from the Himalaya's, so I don't know if they will grow in Iceland. In Scotland they are perfectly hardy. Most people get them wrong because they give them to much sun, like the normal poppies.
Posted by: boo
I spent a fortune on seed two years ago and not one germinated. I was very disappointed. I might have been sold bum seed, not sure but I read that my area may be too hot/humid for the poppy to flourish anyway. I would like to try again sometime. Until then I will grow every color but blue.
Let me know how it works for you guys that are growing them.
Posted by: Rowan
My knowledge of the Meconopsis family is purely hypothetical as I have yet to try them. But I have done some research as I just love them.
As I understand it I am actually right on the edge of being almost too warm for the blue poppy who's other name is the Tibetan or Himalayan Poppy. Although some places claim that they will grow as far south as zone 8a... I think that it would have to be in the deep shade though as even zone 5 growing recommendations say to keep cool and in moist shady spot. These are a northern woodland-type poppy.
From what I understand they prefer humus rich and neutral to slightly acidic soils somewhere around 6.1 - 6.5 being recommended (not sure if the acid level will affect the intensity of the blue or not). Recommended planting companions include Solomon's Seal, Cranesbill, Rhododendron, and Lungwort.
They are perennial and like to be kept cool and moist and if you are in a dryish area will need to be watered daily (or so I have read). Also the dryer they are the more likely they are to die back immediately after their first flowering.
Thompson and Morgan has the best selection of seeds that I have seen offered for Blue poppies and also offer several other in the Meconopsis family such as the Welsh Poppy. They are not cheap though.
The blue poppy ranks second on a Best Alaskan Flowers of 2004 list ..... Delphiniums came first but then they grow 'em 10 ft. up there (Boo, we really need a little green-with-jealousy smilie!)
Meconopsis were also the Royal Hort society's flower of the month a while back.
Posted by: masja63
Meconopsis is a very difficult plant.
The seeds germinate easily (if you keep them in a fridge for a few weeks) but mature very difficult.
When you have a plant that matures. DON'T LET IT FLOWER IN THE FIRST YEAR.
I know it sounds very dramatic.
But when it doesn't have the chance to flower in its first year, the chance is much bigger that it will survive and becomes a perennial.
They are monocarpic, don't mind the frost that much (since they come from the Himalayans) but they Hate wet feet in the winter.
They are truly wonderful but difficult plants, I had one for 3 years but then it died on me.
Posted by: MrSeedy
I've always heard that they're very difficult in most areas of the U.S. as they hate really hot dry summers, and overly cold wet winters. They're generally only considered somewhat reliable in the Pacific Northwest and B.C. I could see one dieing on me the first time we hit 95 F in the summer!!! I do think they're beautiful and worth a try as long as you don't set your hopes to high!!!
