Meconopsis (Infertile Blue Group) 'Bobby Masterton'

RHS Plant Profile

Himalayan blue poppy 'Bobby Masterton'

RHS

Synonyms

Meconopsis grandis 'Betty Sherriff's Dream Poppy'

Herbaceous Perennial

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A short-lived perennial about 1m tall, forming a rosette of oval leaves suffused with red-purple when young. In summer, erect, leafy stems bear a cluster of sky blue poppies with contrasting yellow stamens. The seed capsules, covered in bristly hairs, are decorative but contain no viable seed

Position

Partial shade

Soil Types

Clay, Loam

Max Height

1-1.5 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 2–5 years
Max Spread: 0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height: 1-1.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Clay Loam

Moisture: Moist but well–drained
pH: Acid or Neutral

Position

Partial shade

Aspect: East–facing or West–facing
Exposure: Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H5

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Papaveraceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Columnar upright
Genus: Meconopsis can be annuals, biennials, evergreen or herbaceous perennials, often monocarpic, with rosettes of hairy leaves and bowl-shaped flowers that may be solitary on a leafless stem, or in racemes or panicles on a leafy stem
Name Status: Accepted

How to Grow

Cultivation

Only suitable for particular sites: the soil needs to be neutral to slightly acid, moist but well-drained and enriched with leaf mould or humus to prevent stagnation; in a partially shaded site with shelter from cold, dry winds. Thrives in areas with cool damp summers

Propagation

Propagate by division after flowering but can be short-lived

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Cottage and informal garden
Flower borders and beds

Pruning

Cut down to the base in late autumn

Pests

May be susceptible to slugs and snails

Diseases

May be susceptible to downy mildews