Meconopsis Species, Blue Poppy

I planted a Meconopsis grandis 'Himalayan Blue Poppy' in my garden last spring and made the fatal mistake of letting it bloom for me that...Read More first year. I was thrilled with the brilliant blue flowers! I just talked to some growers who said to never let it bloom the first year, but to cut off the buds so that the plant will grow stronger. I'm not sure if that's what I did wrong or if my putting mulch over the top of the plant during the winter killed it (they also said not to cover the crown or it will rot). It looks like it died over the winter as nothing has emerged so far. So I planted two more this year. If the first one comes up, I'll be thrilled, but having a grouping is ideal as you only get a couple of flowers from each plant, anyway. Will report back if the first plant rises from the dead.

If Rhododendrons do well in your yard, you can grow these beauties.

They are succeptible to crown rot. In ther native lan...Read Moreds in the Himalayas, they are blanketed in snow all winter. If they are not well drained, a film of water on the soil surface can freeze and damage the crown.

Remove the top inch of soil around the crown of the plants and fill with sharp sand, pumice or perlite to prevent a film of water from forming.

We Alaskans are so lucky to have such fabulous results growing these wonderful poppies! My plants are coming into their 3rd season and h...Read Moreave been producing beautifully thus far. As shown in the photo above, they are striking against a weathered rustic fence.

Meconopsis do well in our cool damp climate. My poppy did not bloom the last two years, but put out many blooms this summer after I thinn...Read Moreed out the plants around it. Though I have successfully germinated the seed, the tiny plants tend to rot if kept too moist. This fall I plan to try direct sowing them in the ground to germinate next spring.