Botany Photo of the Day

Meconopsis betonicifolia - Z7 - RHS Index of Garden Plants, Griffiths
Meconopsis betonicifolia - Z7-8 - A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants, Brickell, Cole, Zuk

The RHS may say Z7, but I can assure you they grow perfectly well in my Zone 3 garden in Calgary. We have to modify the soil, water and nutrition for best performance but they are very hardy. M. grandis is even hardier in my garden, getting larger each year. I have had them for at least 10 years. The one thing they hate is drought.

I have some of these seeds from UBC waiting to go. I have tried to germinate them before but with little luck. When is the best time to plant? Do they really need a frost? Any other tips?

I'm the wrong person to answer this - I managed to kill mine. Maybe Weekend Gardener can share a success story, though...

Sow February to July at around 15C (60F) on the surface of a free draining, sterile, damp peat/sand mix compost. Light is required for germination so do not cover the seeds - just gently press the seeds onto the surface of the seed media. High humidity is required - cover the seeds with a transparent propagator dome, or even a clear plastic bag. The seeds germinate rapidly - you should seed some activity at around 4 weeks, certainly by 8 weeks. If you don't see any seedlings by then, place the propagation tray in a refrigerator for 3-4 weeks to prechill.

The seedlings are quite delicate and small when they first emerge - do not disturb them. They are also very prone to damping off. Hence, a sterile, well drainig medium is important. Prick out the seedlings when they developed their first true leaves and grow them on at between 8 and 10° C until they are well-developed plants. Then, harden off prior to transplanting out in their permanent sites in the spring.

I usually get my seeds in April, a bit later than the recommended sowing time. Late sowing results in a bit of dilemma as the seedlings may not survive the hot July and August temperatures. I do have a really cool and moist spot in our back yard reserved for them. I find the seeds extremely tiny - so I just drop them off on to the surface of the seed compost. I use a propagator tray with a 6 inch high dome, and articicial lighting (fluorescent tubes). Controlling the temperature is important - high temperatures will stiffle germination. My last batch was sown successfully in peat pellets, which seed on a bed of gravel, to prevent wicking moisture from the bottom of the propagation tray. I find the seedlings easier to handle and was able to transplant them into the ground in it's first year.

Hello, I recently moved to Vancouver Island and the property I bought has a huge blue flower in the front flowerbed. I figured it was just a common plant and didn't think too much about it. I took some photos and shared them with friends, only to learn that the gorgeous flower is a Himalayan Blue Poppy. I've posted it to my website to share with all of you. You can see this flower at:

http://www.quarteracre.ca/articles/7/blue-flower

:)