Meconopsis, Blue Poppy, Himalayan Poppy 'Lingholm'

Per Karl Gercens, Conservatory Horticulturist at Longwood Gardens. ht...Read Moretp://www.karlgercens.com/ about Longwood Garden's display of Meconopsis x sheldonii 'Lingholm':
"Here's my one image of Meconopis 'Lingholm' for the short season they're on display. We fly the two-year old plants in from Alaska in October. After they complete their dormancy in a cooler, we pot them and put them under lights to simulate summer and keep the temperatures very cool. They only bloom for 2 weeks in March and this is their last week!! "

Having a blue poppy bloom and then die can hardly be considered a failure.

'Lingholm' is a seed strain rather than a singl...Read Moree clone. A proportion of these seed-raised plants will die after flowering even with an optimal climate and optimal cultivation. And on the other hand, certain clones have been maintained by vegetative propagation for decades. When you buy seed-raised plants, whether your plant is genetically destined to die after flowering is simply a matter of chance.

Here's an article on how they're forced at Longwood Gardens: http://www.greenhousegrower.com/plant-culture/big-on-blue-po...

"Under no circumstance should growers expose blue poppy to temperatures above 70°F for extended periods of time. Even at 65°F, the blue poppy will go into heat stress."

The first time I planted a Meconopsis 'Lingholm', it died. I blamed it on not cutting the budding flower before it bloomed. But, I boug...Read Moreht one from a perennial plant group's sale this spring and this time, it bloomed! I have it in mostly shade, in the back of my border where it gets sufficient moisture from our drip system. I did not cut the buds off as I wanted to see the glorious blue color and it didn't disappoint! Hopefully, it will come back next year. I intend to protect it well with mulch over the winter..

March 2014, Update: I've already mentioned my experience in another thread, but thought I'd add to this one. My second experience seems also to be a failure, even though the 2nd plant bloomed for me. A grower suggested that I should NOT have let it bloom. So, I've bought two more and will do as she said. The soil is very rich and it's in a shaded, protected location. Fingers crossed! :-)

I was so thrilled when I received the gift of a Meconopsis. It bloomed the first year, and it was breathtakingly beautiful. Luckily I too...Read Morek pictures, because it did not survive beyond that first season. Evidently they really are drought averse. It's the only thing I can think that I did wrong. It was planted beneath a fir tree where the soil tends to be dry and I must have let it go too dry for too long because it dried up and I never saw it again.
So, be sure to keep them watered!