Product description
Famed as the elusive Himalayan Blue Poppy, this plant is the holy grail for many gardeners, producing large, papery, bowl-shaped flowers in an intense, piercing, true sky-blue colour, accented by a contrasting boss of golden-yellow stamens. It is a woodland plant that forms a rosette of hairy, pale green leaves.
Growing this plant successfully requires mimicking its natural, high-altitude habitat; it demands cool, damp, completely shaded conditions and rich, acidic soil loaded with organic matter. It must never be allowed to dry out, and it is crucial to prevent the plant from flowering in its first year to help it build enough strength to survive as a true perennial.
Please Note: When purchasing plants, please consider that each live item is unique and may therefore differ from the images shown, which are for illustration purposes only. The plant will be supplied in a growers pot. Depending on season, some plants may be pruned back to encourage growth and deciduous plants may arrive without leaves.
Himalayan Poppy
Meconopsis 'Baileyi'
Meconopsis 'Baileyi'
Product description
Famed as the elusive Himalayan Blue Poppy, this plant is the holy grail for many gardeners, producing large, papery, bowl-shaped flowers in an intense, piercing, true sky-blue colour, accented by a contrasting boss of golden-yellow stamens. It is a woodland plant that forms a rosette of hairy, pale green leaves.
Growing this plant successfully requires mimicking its natural, high-altitude habitat; it demands cool, damp, completely shaded conditions and rich, acidic soil loaded with organic matter. It must never be allowed to dry out, and it is crucial to prevent the plant from flowering in its first year to help it build enough strength to survive as a true perennial.
Please Note: When purchasing plants, please consider that each live item is unique and may therefore differ from the images shown, which are for illustration purposes only. The plant will be supplied in a growers pot. Depending on season, some plants may be pruned back to encourage growth and deciduous plants may arrive without leaves.
Give your plants the best start
Garden Plant Size Guide
Plants in larger pots can be multiple years older than their smaller counterparts with more mature root systems and foliage. This makes them able to thrive as a full size plant in your garden quicker than smaller alternatives.
The most common size of pot that garden plants come in are 9cm/1L/3L/5L this is in reference to the diameter at the top of the pot.
9cm potted plants still remain the most popular cost effective option though, they just may take a little patience to allow them to grow into full maturity once planted in your garden.
Plant specs, care guide & tips
Key features
Specifications
When to plant
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Planting and period of interest times are general guidelines and may vary based on your location and conditions. For best results, consult local gardening resources.
Instructions
Top Tip
It is painful to do, but you must snip off all the flower buds during the Meconopsis' very first year; this forces it to push all its energy into building a perennial root system rather than blooming itself to death as a biennial.
How to Water
Meconopsis requires constantly moist, humus-rich soil. Never let them dry out; water frequently to maintain high humidity and cool root temperatures. Use rainwater if possible to avoid alkaline tap water, which they hate.
How to Plant
Creating the perfect home for the Meconopsis requires digging a wide hole in a cool, fully shaded spot and heavily amending the dirt with ericaceous (acidic) compost or leaf mold. The soil must be incredibly rich, airy, and humus-heavy, mimicking a natural woodland floor.
