Meconopsis 'Lingholm'

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 betonicifolia. 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.

Himalayan poppies bear spectacular, bowl-shaped blue flowers with bright yellow centres, in late spring to early summer. They make a dramatic statement when grown en masse, and do best when grown in moist, neutral to acid soil in partial shade.

Meconopis 'Lingholm' bears large, sky-blue flowers from late spring to midsummer. It's a much longer-lived perennial than other cultivars, provided it's grown in the right conditions. Like other meconopsis it needs moist soil – if the soil isn't sufficiently moist the plants will suffer.