Himalayan Blue Poppies

J52

The best ones I’ve seen are growing in a Scottish National Trust garden. I think they have to be grown in a situation that best replicates a Himalayan hillside.

Yes, I’ve seen them in Poolewe in the north west of Scotland but I can’t grow them in the north east.

dragonfly46

Has anyone grown these successfully?
I have been trying to grow them from small plug plants for a few years now but I am never successful.
Is there a special trick to it?
I love blue flowers.

So do I. I wish you success.

On holiday abroad we met a chap who showed me photos of his meconopsis - they were wonderful. But he lived in the west of Ireland so I guess that's the trick for success!

I've bought plants a few times over the years but never managed to keep it going for more than one season, despite careful positioning in a moist shaded bed. I just checked the RHS site which says they only flower once and then die, so I suppose you have to hope that they will seed themselves and appear again the next year.

I bought plants from Branklin Gardens in Perth 2 years ago and they told me they can be quite temperamental. They, too, have had trouble on and off but they have so many spread over the garden they always come back. I just noticed this morning that the ones I planted have just started to grow so hopefully I'll have flowers this year. I also saved some seeds last year, dried them off and I'll plant them this year. I have my fingers crossed and my optimist hat on!

I used to sell seeds from my plants, and the packets I produced for them, based on the instructions I had successfully used, were
"Sow seed from Dec – Feb. sowing thinly onto the surface of moist, peat-based compost in trays or plastic pots. Cover the seed with fine grit or a little sieved compost.

Keep in a light, well-ventilated place such as a cool greenhouse or frame. Never allow surface to dry out, especially after germination has taken place. Germination takes two weeks to several months;

Damping-off can be a problem. The chances of this occurring should be minimized by applying very dilute fungicide when the first seedlings emerge. Prick out seedlings at the two or three leaf-stage. handling the leaves only. Transfer gently to the same light compost, avoiding compaction.

Keep in a shady place until growth has resumed. Keep the plants growing actively, and repot before the pots become root-bound. It is important not to let the plants suffer a check in growth. Transfer to larger pots or into the garden when large enough."
I never had any plants self-seed successfully. Collected seed needs to be stored in the fridge, in a paper envelope then a plastic container.

Even gardening gurus say they haven’t succeeded in growing these lovely flowers.

No me neither, the only ones I can grow are the orange California poppies..They spring back every year and they always cheer me up..

Grew them about 30 years ago in a property. They surived for 20 odd years, were in a sunny site beside some Irises. From what I recall they were very rarely disturbed and then just disappeared.

Cerotastigma is a pretty shrub, easy to grow in pots and soil with lots of small blue flowers, I haven't had any success with Mecanopsis

I've wanted to grow them, we have a shady garden & areas that stay damp, & slightly acid soil. But reading this, don't think I'll try as I always take it personally when I plant something & it doesn't thrive. I know I shouldn't, so many plants do come back unexpectedly year after year, even after what was quite a severe drought last year round here.

The RHS website states that this plant :"thrives in areas with cool, damp summers." Which explains why it does well in Scotland! (It also blooms at Dalemain House, near Penrith, in Cumbria.)