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Meconopsis betonicifolia var. alba - Blue Poppy

Meconopsis betonicifolia Alba
Blue Poppy, Himalayan blue Poppy

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F Hassan, 17/04/2024

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More information

A very beautiful form with large white flowers of the mythical blue poppy from the Himalayas. Its white bristle flowers, 8cm (3in) wide, bloom around a cluster of golden stamens. They emerge in late spring and early summer from a velvety foliage. This perennial myth deserves to be cultivated in a humus-rich and fresh soil, in the shelter of a wood, in filtered light.
Flower size
8 cm
Height at maturity
1 m
Spread at maturity
45 cm
Exposure
Partial shade
Hardiness
Hardy down to -23°C
Soil moisture
Moist soil
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Best planting time March to April
Recommended planting time March to May
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Flowering time May to June
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Description

Meconopsis betonicifolia var. alba, also known as the Himalayan Blue Poppy with white flowers, is a rare form of this mythical plant that collectors are clamouring for. With great purity, the sublime flowers of this perennial have a pure white colour with silky reflections, warmed by a bouquet of golden stamens. They are borne on elegant and sturdy stems, well above a light green downy foliage. This Alba variety is a gift from nature, a treasure that deserves to be cultivated in humus-rich and moist soil, in the shelter of an understorey or a wall, in filtered light.

 

Originally from the Yarlung Zangbo Gorges in southeastern Tibet, the Blue Poppy grows at an altitude of 3000 to 4000 metres (9842 to 13123 feet); in nature, it is already a plant that must be earned! It grows in more or less shaded and humid places, in rather neutral, humus-rich, and deep soil. Capricious, it can wither overnight for no apparent reason.

The alba variant is a rare form that is faithfully propagated by sowing. It is a hardy perennial plant with rapid growth, whose above-ground vegetation develops in spring and disappears in winter. The plant shows a rosette habit from which flowering stems measuring 90cm (35in) to 1m (3ft) emerge. The basal rosette with a diameter of 40 to 50cm (16 to 20in) is composed of cordate and ovate leaves, fairly light green in colour, hairy, and long-petiolate. The more or less branched flowering stems bear several flowers measuring 8 to 10cm (3 to 4in) in diameter, with a slightly translucent and silky texture, white in colour. Their golden centre consists of an ovary with a short stem of bulb surrounded by a collar of yellow-orange stamens. The flowering is followed by the formation of brown capsules filled with small black spherical seeds.

 

Often difficult to maintain in our gardens, the 'alba' Blue Poppy is nevertheless perennial, hardy, and prolific. To increase your chances of success, look for and find the coldest spot in your garden, at the foot of an east or north-facing wall, in well-drained and loose soil, where it is at the edge of an understorey exposed to morning sun. Plant it in large masses, give it space, and let nature take its course. Meconopsis betonicifolia and its varieties seem to be the easiest to grow in climates that are hotter and drier in summer than its country of origin. It should be kept in mind that this plant experiences the summer monsoon in Tibet and is covered in snow in winter. For example, associate it with Japanese ferns, Japanese herbs, or small Fortune's saxifrages, which appreciate the same environments.

Meconopsis betonicifolia var. alba - Blue Poppy in pictures

Meconopsis betonicifolia var. alba - Blue Poppy (Flowering) Flowering

Flowering

Flower colour white
Flowering time May to June
Flower size 8 cm
Flowering description White with yellow stamens.

Foliage

Foliage persistence Deciduous
Foliage colour green
Foliage description Deciduous.

Plant habit

Height at maturity 1 m
Spread at maturity 45 cm
Growth rate normal

Botanical data

Genus

Meconopsis

Species

betonicifolia

Cultivar

Alba

Family

Papaveraceae

Other common names

Blue Poppy, Himalayan blue Poppy

Origin

Himalayas

Product reference853801

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Planting and care

The 'alba' Himalayan blue poppy is difficult to cultivate. It is recommended for green thumbs, in cool regions, in shaded areas, on soil that remains moist even in summer, but well-drained to prevent root rot even in winter. The soil should be acidic to neutral, meaning it should be devoid of limestone. Plant in a mixture of soil and turf, in moist, neutral or acidic soil. The flowering in the first year is often reduced, and it is advised to cut the flower stalks before flowering in the first spring to strengthen the plant. Conservation over several years can sometimes be delicate.

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Planting period

Best planting time March to April
Recommended planting time March to May

Intended location

Suitable for Woodland edge
Type of use Border
Hardiness Hardy down to -23°C (USDA zone 6a) Show map
Ease of cultivation Experienced
Exposure Partial shade
Soil pH Acidic
Soil type Silty-loamy (rich and light)
Soil moisture Moist soil, Free-draining, rich in humus

Care

Pruning instructions It is recommended in the first year to cut the flowering stems before flowering, in the first spring, to strengthen the young plant.
Pruning Pruning recommended once a year
Disease resistance Good
Overwinter Can be left in the ground
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