Meconopsis

Plant Characteristics

Cultivation

Scientific Names

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Meconopsis is a genus of flowering plants in the family Papaveraceae. The species have attractive flowers and have two distinct ranges. A single species, M. cambrica, also known as the Welsh poppy, is indigenous to England, Wales, Ireland, and the fringes of Western Europe. The other 40 or so (depending on classification) species are found in the Himalayas. Within the Himalayan types there is much debate as to what constitutes a particular species as many readily hybridise with each other and produce viable seed. It is likely that some individually-named species are in fact a single species but with an under-appreciated morphological diversity. A large proportion of species are monocarpic and as such are notoriously difficult to maintain in cultivation. Meconopsis grandis, nicknamed the Blue Poppy (although it is only poppy-like), is the national flower of Bhutan.

Read about Meconopsis in the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture

Meconopsis (Greek, poppy-like). Papaveraceae. Poppy-like herbs, annual and perennial, useful as garden flower plants. Simple or rarely much-branched plants with yellow juice, annual or biennial (monocarpic: seeding but once) or perennial, with showy large yellow, reddish or blue fls. in cymose racemes or panicles or borne singly: lvs. stalked when radical, short-stalked or sessile when cauline, entire, lobed, or dissected: sepals 2, usually deciduous; petals 4, varying to 5-10: stamens many; stigmas forming a globular mass or body on the several- to many-carpelled ovary: caps, oblong to clavate or even cylindrical, 1-celled with 4 or more projecting placentae, opening by short teeth or valves at the summit.—Species 28 as defined by Fedde (Das Pflanzenreich, hft. 40. 1909), in the northern extra-tropical regions, mostly in Asia, 2 in W. N. Amer.; other species have been described subsequently. In 1906, Prain admitted 27 species (Ann. Bot. XX, pp. 323-365). The species of Meconopsis have recently come into much prominence, mostly as herbaceous perennial subjects for borders and rock-gardens. Heretofore these plants have been known mostly by M. cambrica and M. heterophylla, but within ten or twelve years many attractive species have been introduced from the high elevations in the China-Tibet region. It is probable that the genus will have a great extension of popularity among gardeners. Hybrids already have appeared. Coming from high altitudes, they may be treated as hardy plants. They propagate readily from seed sown directly in the open in spring, or they may be started under glass and transplanted. The annual-biennial species may be carried as seedlings in pots the first summer and planted out in autumn if it is desired to bloom them the second year. They require partial shade. The Chinese and Himalayan species are essentially alpines, and it is probable that they would not withstand the American summers without very special treatment. Their availability here is yet to be determined. M.discigera, Prain. Probably perennial, with golden brown spreading hairs: lvs. in a basal tuft, spatulate, subacute, sparingly toothed, sometimes lobed toward the apex, green above, glaucous beneath: st. scape-like, simple, 1 ft. high: fls. racemose, the petals and sepals not described: caps, bearing a lobed disk. Himalaya.— M. Forrestii, Prain. Allied to M. lancifolia: St. simple: lvs. few, lanceolate or narrow-subspatulate, obtuse or acutish, entire: fls. 3-5, in raceme-like cymes, pale blue; petals oblong. Yunnan.—M. lancifolia, Franch. Annual or biennial, much like M. Henrici, but the deep violet fls. in raceme-like cymes: lvs. narrow-lanceolate or linear- lanceolate, entire or slightly repand; petals broadly obovate: caps, narrow-obconic. China.—M. nepaulensis, Hort. What the cult. plant passing under this name (variously spelled) may be is uncertain. M. napaulensis D.C., is allied to M. Wallichii, but with brownish purple larger fls., and sparsely long-pilose herbage. M. nipalensis, Hook. f.. is M. robusta. B.M. 5585. M. nepalensis, Lem., is a form of M. paniculata; and M. napaulensis, Walp., belongs to the same species.—M. Oliveriana, Franch. & Prain. Perennial: st. erect, much branched, 2-3 ft.: lvs. numerous, ovate-oblong, pinnately parted: fls. solitary or twin, probably purple, the petals rounded and nearly 1 in. diam. W. China.—M. paniculata, Prain. Tall perennial, soft-hairy: st. simple or seldom somewhat branched, bearing yellow fls. in lax raceme-like cymes: lvs. linear-lanceolate or oblong, sinuate lobed, coarsely toothed, or rarely pinnatifid: petals entire. Himalaya.—M. primulina, Prain. Annual or biennial, glabrous or sparsely strigose: st. short: lvs. spatulate to linear-oblong, entire: scape nearly radical, 1-fld.; fls. violet-purple, the petals 6-8, the inner ones narrower. Himalaya.—M. robusta. Hook. f. & Thorns. Tall annual or biennial, glaucescent, much branched: basal lvs. pinnately parted: fls. racemose or paniculate, sulfur-yellow. Himalaya.—M. superba, King. Annual or biennial, tall and stout: basal lvs. sinuate-lobed: st. simple, bearing white fls. in simple raceme- like cymes. Himalaya. The above text is from the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture. It may be out of date, but still contains valuable and interesting information which can be incorporated into the remainder of the article. Click on "Collapse" in the header to hide this text.

Cultivation

Himalayan varieties have the reputation for being difficult to grow from seed, but when germinating new plants, using fresh seeds will help. On the other hand, the Welsh poppy is sometimes considered a weed, albeit a handsome one, due to its vigorous self-seeding. It comes as a surprise to many that poppies are available in shades of blue. These plants are available in a variety of strong colours, including blue, red, orange, purple, white and yellow depending on species and cultivar.

They like a rich, loamy soil in a semi-shaded position.

Propagation

Seeds should be stored in an airtight, dry container, in a cool place such as a domestic fridge. Some seeds, such as that of [[Meconopsis punicea {{{3}}}|M. {{{3}}}]] need to be sown when fresh and experience a period of cold to allow germination to occur.

From Seed

Sow seeds during late summer through to early winter on the surface of a seed tray filled with moist seed raising mix and then cover with a 10mm layer of vermiculite and firm well, keep moist at all times, especially after germination has taken place, by misting or watering from below, to avoid disturbing the seeds. Including a lot of grit into the soil allows you to prick the plant out without damaging the delicate stem or roots. Using peat pellets solves this transplanting problem.

Germinate them in a shaded, cool location. The germination period can be three weeks, but can also take several months, sometimes not germinating until the next year. Some species, such as M. lancifolia, M. sinuata, M. delavayi, and M. speciosa and the high altitude form of M. horridula.

You can transfer plants into the garden when they are large enough.

Pests and diseases

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Species

M. aculeata
M. betonicifolia (Himalayan blue poppy)
M. cambrica (Welsh poppy)
M. chelidonifolia
M. grandis
M. lancifolia
M. napaulensis (Nepal poppy)
M. punicia
M. quituplinerva
M. simplicifolia (blue poppy)

Gallery

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External links

• Meconopsis.org specialized website - includes further links
• w:Meconopsis. Some of the material on this page may be from Wikipedia, under the Creative Commons license.
• Meconopsis QR Code (Size 50, 100, 200, 500)