Meconopsis baileyi

Meconopsis is a genus of plants in the poppy family, the most common of which grown in Britain are the Welsh poppy, Meconopsis cambrica, and the Himalayan blue poppy, Meconopsis baileyi. The flowers are a similar shape and structure to true poppies, but they can be identified as meconopsis by their seedheads. Rather than 'pepper pot' seedheads typical of true poppies, meconopsis seedheads are thin and long.

Meconopsis baileyi bears spectacular, bowl-shaped blue flowers with bright yellow centres, in late spring to early summer. It makes a dramatic statement when grown en masse, and does best when grown in moist, neutral to acid soil in a partially shaded spot. The Royal Horticultural Society has given it the prestigious Award of Garden Merit (AGM).