There are two species in the Meconopsis genus of poppies that are referred to as Himalayan blue poppies. One is Meconopsis grandis, and the other is Meconopsis baileyi (also known as Meconopsis betonicifolia). Baileyi is the most widely cultivated and the one that this article focusses on. M. baileyi even won the esteemed Award of Garden Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society.
This clump-forming perennial has strikingly unusual, delicate, blue, bowl-shaped flowers with yellow centers. The blooms develop in succession on the tall, leafy, bristly stems (that can grow up to 4ft in height) through late spring and early summer and they pack a unique punch of color in shady borders.
The seedheads of meconopsis poppies distinguish them from true poppies. Instead of being pepperpot shaped, they are elongated and slender.
With the right conditions, blue poppies will self-seed, and this makes them a good choice for temperate meadow, informal or cottage gardens. They are often planted under tree canopies as they thrive in moist and filtered light environments.
The rich nectar of the Himalayan blue poppy is also perfect if you want to attract pollinators to your garden. Bees and butterflies are drawn to it.
Despite this, these flowers are still relatively rare in the horticultural trade, and you may need to search for a specialist if you want to plant this species. Plus, they are short-lived and require very specific conditions to thrive, and these won't be possible to recreate in every garden. Even the most experienced gardeners can find blue poppies a challenge when it comes to germination and growing successfully.
Botanical Name
Meconopsis betonicifolia or Meconopsis baileyi
Common Name
Blue Poppy. Himalayan Blue Poppy
Plant Type
Perennial, Herbaceous
Mature Size
Up to 4 ft. tall
Sun Exposure
Part Shade
Soil Type
Moist but well-drained
Soil pH
Acid, Neutral
Bloom Time
Summer
Flower Color
Blue
Hardiness Zones
5-7, USA
Native Area
Himalayas
Blue Poppy Care
While blue poppies can be low-maintenance if they are provided with exactly the right type of environment, not every garden will be able to offer them the conditions they need to thrive. They need a fertile, moist, and well-drained soil and filtered light. High temperatures are a problem for this species, so you need to live in an area that can provide the types of cool summers they thrive in.
In their native habitat, Himalayan blue poppies would grow on damp woodland floors where they would receive dappled light. These plants can't survive if they are exposed to too much intense sunlight. They prefer a partial shade position with bright but indirect light.
If you live in a region that experiences very mild summer temperatures, they may still manage in a more sunny position, but, ideally, this would only expose them to direct morning sun.
Soil
Blue poppies have very particular soil requirements. To thrive, they need a moist but well-drained type that is rich in organic matter. Loamy soils work best, and enthusiasts often enrich them with leaf matter to minimize the chance of stagnation and to conserve moisture.
They are also surprisingly sensitive to pH levels. A soil test is recommended before planting as they prefer a neutral to slightly acidic type. Too much alkalinity results in the blooms turning purple rather than blue, and it can impact on growth.
Water
Blue poppies need to be kept consistently moist throughout their growth period in the late spring and summer. In the winter, their preference is to be kept dry, so no supplemental watering is usually required.
Temperature and Humidity
Blue poppies won't be appropriate for growing in the southern states that are hot and humid. Temperate regions that don't have overly hot summers are best for these plants.
Fertilizer
If your soil hasn't been enriched sufficiently with manure, compost or leaf mold, you could apply a weak dose of slow-release granular fertilizer during the spring and summer growth period.
Pruning
Experts agree that during the first year of growth, any buds appearing on stems should be removed before they flower. That way, your blue poppies will be able to focus on establishing strong roots and developing their foliage. This will encourage this relatively short-lived plant to survive longer.
Cutting them down to the ground in late fall is also a common practice.
Propagating Blue Poppy Plants
Clumps that are becoming overcrowded should also be divided as this can help to lengthen the life of blue poppies. Do bear in mind, however, if you plan to divide your plant to create a new clump elsewhere in your garden, given the longevity of this species, they may not survive all that much longer. For this reason, propagation is often best done from seeds.
How to Grow Blue Poppies From Seed
Growing blue poppies from seeds isn't regarded as an easy task. The germinating seeds need decent light, can be prone to damping off (a fungal disease that affects the developing roots), and they don't respond well to being transplanted.
Sowing fresh seeds is recommended. They should be sown thinly on the surface of their nutrient-rich soil or starting mix. This should be kept evenly moist, but make sure it doesn't get waterlogged. To prevent transplant shock, they may do better being sown in peat pots.
Unlike established plants, blue poppy seeds need a decent amount of light for successful germination, and ideal temperatures are around 55 to 60°F. Intense, prolonged sunlight, however, should still be avoided.
Common Pests & Diseases
You may need to protect your blue poppies from slugs and snails and they can be prone to downy mildew on their foliage.
Fill the container with rich moist soil, a mixture of bagged potting soil and pure compost works well, and plant your blue poppies. They want their roots to grow in rich soil that never dries out. Be sure to keep up with watering during the growing season.
Enjoy the unique experience of growing these spectacular plants and, with a little luck, you will have them reseeding in your garden. The RSBG has found Meconopsis 'Lingholm' to be a most reliable selection, returning year after year with pure blue blooms.
While blue poppies can be low-maintenance if they are provided with exactly the right type of environment, not every garden will be able to offer them the conditions they need to thrive. They need a fertile, moist, and well-drained soil and filtered light.
This plant does not respond well to high summer heat and humidity but thrives in areas with cool damp summers. Shelter from cold, dry winds. Apply a balanced fertilizer in spring and mulch round plants with garden compost or well-rotted manure. Perfect for borders and beds, underplanting shrubs, and cottage gardens.
One of the biggest advantages they have is the colour of the flowers. The striking blue is a really good colour to mix with almost anything else. They grow to about one metre in height from a small rosette of leaves and take up very little space in the garden.
These Poppies require part shade. They need a site with a dappled shade that is sheltered from cold, dry winds. In their native habitat, Himalayan Poppies grow in woodlands where they receive dappled light.
With suitable species available to hardiness zones 2-10, gardeners across the map have the opportunity to enjoy poppies. They thrive in the cooler conditions of late winter to early summer, blooming mainly between April and June, depending on the species and hardiness zone.
Because of the relatively short bloom-span, different varieties and annuals are often planted in the flower beds with poppies to keep the garden full of color year-round. [Optional] Dead-head to prevent seeding and spreading, but if you let them seed, your poppies will spread and naturalize nicely.
Deadhead regularly to prolong flowering. Apply a generous 5-7cm (2-3in) mulch of bark chippings, well-rotted leaf mould or composted pine needles around the base of the plant in spring.
Since poppies need sunlight to germinate and because they can't withstand constantly moist conditions, Funk says the plant should be kept in an area that gets full sun. Make sure your poppies are positioned somewhere the sun is hitting them for about six hours a day.
To encourage more blooms, deadhead the flowers once they fade. You can also cut down the stems to the ground if the plant enters summer dormancy. It may spur the plant to encourage more growth as soon as the weather cools in the late summer or early fall.
The unsaturated fats in blue poppy seed stimulate the production of HDL-cholesterol and are therefore very beneficial for human health. Next to this, blue poppy seed is a great source of plant-based protein. Ideal to give salads, sauces or yoghurt extra nutricial value.
Instead of the red poppy, the French pay tribute on Remembrance Day by wearing a blue cornflower, known as the Bleuet de France. Just like poppies, cornflowers grew on the land devastated by the First World War. They were the only sign of colour in the mud of the trenches.
“The bloom time changes every year,” says state park interpreter Jean Rhyne. “Generally it happens early in April, but it can take place any time between mid-March and early May.”
California Poppies (Eschscholzia californica) are annual poppies native to western North America - from Mexico through California and into the Southwestern deserts that get winter and spring moisture. They do well in soils that have a pH of 6.5 to 8.0 and can take temperatures up to 90 degrees.
Meconopsis grow best in the cooler and wetter areas of Northern England and Scotland and are a challenge in the South. Even a few days of bright sun in dry conditions will scorch plants in unsuitable sites.
Most commonly, gardeners can choose from the annual poppies grown each year from seed (Papaver, Eschscholtzia), or perennial poppies that come back from underground roots each year (Papaver, Stylophorum). Either way, poppies are pure joy to have in the garden or scattered across the landscape.
Taking care of Poppies throughout the winter is not difficult and does not require many tasks. In most of the growing zones, Poppies will have gone dormant and died back well before fall. The seeds spread in the fall will overwinter and germinate in early spring when the weather begins to warm.
The most common problems are too much water, not enough sunlight, over-fertilizing, hot weather and recent transplanting. Perennial and annual Poppies all bloom during the cooler months of the late spring and early summer and then go dormant in summer, as later-blooming perennials are starting to hit their stride.
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