I have read that himalayan poppies are difficult to grow from seed. Is this true? I would like to try to grow this beautiful plant from seed.Any advice would be helpful. Thanks

The seeds germinate well. They tend to damp off and hate to be transplanted. Put them in peat pots and soak the pot well and bury it all when planting.

Ana

The stunningly beautiful, large, Himalayan blue poppies, one of the most cherished and coveted plants in all cultivation originate and thrive in a cool zone high above the clouds in Nepal. - not quite our climate (zone 4b),(or your zone 6) but last June I had the privilege of viewing a large clump of them growing and flourishing in a beautiful garden (Taffes')just over on Alta Vista Dr., in Ottawa.

These were the fabled Meconopsis grandis & sieboldii hybrids, the true queens of the poppy genus. They grow three to five feet in a breezy, cool area of the garden that gets fair sun surrounded by deep shade. They appreciate a well drained but moisture retentive soil which could be accomplished by amending your garden loam with coarse sand, leaf mold and your best compost. The flowers, usually with four blue petals and yellow anthers with white filaments, arrive late spring and early summer.

On the recommendation of Lee Boltwood, one of our favorite master gardeners, we visited Branklyn Garden when we were in Scotland last fall. This as we were told was one of the most magnificent small gardens in all of Great Britain. Unfortunately at the time I was unaware that Meconopsis seed available in the small shop was from a magnificent cultivar selected there that grew flowers to an almost unbelievable eight inches in diameter.

The Blue Poppies are readily propagated from fresh seed by starting them early under lights so you have vigorous seedlings to set out in mid June. Keeping them growing strongly the first year is absolutely essential. It is suggested we decapitate the flower shoots the first season they appear. Who could possibly be so cruel? This ruthlessness however, encourages basal offshoots for the next season’s growth making them quasi-perennial.

A group of these charmers will form a picture of unparalleled beauty in your garden and I”ll challenge you to give them a try - but zone 6 ???,

I have tried for three seasons to grow blue poppies from seed. Each time they germinate and each time the seedlings are killed by fungus. Good luck to you, but watch out for damping off. They are such stunning plants that I will keep trying too!

This is my sixth year having fun with the "blue poppy". I would suggest buying a started plant because they need constant care when started from seed. After trying several places in the yard, I found that they like the north side with almost no sun. They like breezes and an acid mulch like pine needles. They must be kept constantly wet. Chances are they will not bloom the first year. Last year mine bloomed for the first time. Be sure to mulch and cover the mulch with snow. I'm zone 2b-3. Now to get that black iris to bloom.!!!!!

I live in zone 3A and have never had luck with these poppies. Theoretically, they should do well here with our cool nights and long summer days. But, I tried them in my old garden, which was almost full shade, and they died. My neighbour across the road has two of them on the east side of her house in partial shade. One bloomed beautifully, and the one next to it, died. I must admit though, I was very envious of the one that bloomed. I'm going to try them again in my new garden, south facing but surrounded by large shade trees. If you have the right spot, they are spectacular.

Thanks again to everyone.Your tips have been very helpful.

if u live in a zone that meconopsis can serve as a perennial, then u MUST pick of the blooms the first year in order to get them to bloom for years after that. If u don't, they'll bloom the first year, but not the second or third...etc.