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Tibetan Bhutani Himalayan Blue Meconopsis betonicifolia Poppy Seeds for Planting

Meconopsis betonicifolia, the Himalayan blue poppy, is a species of flowering plant in the family Papaveraceae. It was first formally named for western science in 1912 by the British officer Lt. Col. Frederick Marshman Bailey. Wikipedia
Scientific name: Meconopsis betonicifolia
Genus: Meconopsis
Family: Papaveraceae

This rare flowering plant is known for its vibrant blue and purple tinged petals and was once considered a myth. It was discovered in 1933 by the acclaimed botanist, George Sheriff during an expedition to a remote region in eastern Bhutan.

Indigenous cultures in many Asian countries highly value Meconopsis species. For example, the flowers of M. aculeata are used for the treatment of asthma, pain, fever and cough by local inhabitants of Chamba and Lahaul-Spiti, Himachal Pradesh and Bageshwar, Uttarakhand, India (Bahukhandi et al., 2019).


Blue poppies are not poppies at all they belong to the meconopsis family they are called poppies due to their close resemblance to them.

When people refer to the blue poppy they are usually referring to either Meconopsis Bailyeii or Meconopsis Lingholm. Meconopsis Lingholm is the most reliably perennial. They grow around 3 feet tall and should be planted in part shade or shade, and bloom in June and July.

They grow in the Himalayas typically along stream banks, in a woodland type of soil. All of  this is important being a cool weather plant, plant it in partial share or shade. Now having a moist well draining soil is important having moist wet air is just as important if not more so. Blue poppies are covered in a bunch of fine hairs the hairs are what capture the moisture in the air along those stream banks which helps keep those plants cool. 

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 4 feet in height) through late spring and early summer and they pack a unique punch of color in shady borders.
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.

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Common Name     Blue Poppy, Himalayan Blue Poppy
Botanical Name     Meconopsis betonicifolia or Meconopsis baileyi
Family         Papaveraceae
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 (USDA)
Native Area     Himalayas
Blue Poppy Care
Here are the basic care requirements for blue poppies:
Plant in fertile, moist, and well-drained soil, and filtered light.
Keep consistently moist during the growing season and dry in the winter when dormant.
Avoid high temperatures, these plants thrive in areas with cool summers.
Feed with a light dose of slow-release granular fertilizer during the growing season.

Light
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.

Types of Blue Poppies
Beyond blue, there are also purple, pink, and white Meconopsis baileyi varieties.
Meconopsis baileyi 'Sue's Violet': The stems of this variety is topped with clusters of light purple flowers with gold stamens that grow 2 feet high.

Meconopsis baileyi 'Hensol Violet': This variety has bright purple flowers with gold centers that grow 2 to 3 feet high.

Sow the seeds thinly on the surface of their nutrient-rich soil or starting mix.
Keep the soil evenly moist, but make sure it doesn't get waterlogged.
To prevent transplant shock, they may do better being sown in peat pots.
Provide blue poppy seeds with a decent amount of light for successful germination, and ideal temperatures around 55 to 60°F. Intense, prolonged sunlight should be avoided.

Blue poppies have large, sky-blue blooms that are up to 5 inches across. The papery, cup-shaped flowers, with 4 to 6 petals and yellow stamens, bloom late spring until mid-summer. Each flower blooms in succession and lasts around 10 days. These flowers are not fragrant, but their nectar attracts pollinators. 

Noted for its astonishing blue poppy flowers, Meconopsis baileyi (Himalayan Blue Poppy) is a short-lived, clump-forming perennial boasting large, silky, cup-shaped, clear blue flowers, 3-4 inches wide, with contrasting golden stamens and a short ivory-white style. Borne in succession on erect leafy stems, the striking blossoms rise with majesty from a basal rosette of hairy, oblong leaves and give way to narrow seed pods.

Recipient of the prestigious Award of Garden Merit of the Royal Horticultural Society for its outstanding qualities.
Grows in clumps up to 3-4 feet tall and spreads 12-24 inches. Will happily self-seed in good growing conditions to create a lovely colony.
Prefers  part shade  in  humus-rich,  neutral to slightly acid,  moist  but  well-drained soils . Make sure the soil has plenty of organic matter.  Do not allow the soil to dry out  during the growing season or get waterlogged in winter.
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.
Deer and rabbit resistant
Native to Tibet and Bhutan.


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