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 ???,