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Magic
Meconopsis
By Brendan Little
I
was reminded today of how beautiful (and photogenic)
the blooms of Meconopsis x sheldonii 聭Slieve
Donard聮 actually are. This is an annual
reminder, which never fails to stir the gardening
emotions, and from where I sit I can see the
nodding heads of the brilliant blue blooms of
what must be one of the most beautiful plants
in cultivation. The story goes that Mrs. Marjorie
Dickie of Omagh gave some of the plants to the
long lamented Slieve Donard Nursery in Co Down,
who then put it on the market.
Meconopsis x shieldonii 聭Slieve Donard聮
is a perennial meconopsis therefore it does
not die after flowering. Being a hybrid it does
not produce viable seed and therefore it must
be propagated vegetatively by division. Opions
vary as to the best time to carry out this work
but I have found that immediately after flowering
or early September works best for me. 聭Slieve
Donard聮 must have an acid (lime free),
peaty soil that does not dry out, my plants
thrive in a cool shady damp (not wet) position
in the shadow of a north-facing wall. I should
also add that I have also grown them in full
sun with much success. If you do not have an
acid soil they will be quite happy in a raised
peat bed, so do not despair. Like some primula
species I know, Meconopsis x shieldonii 聭Slieve
Donard聮 likes to be moved to fresh soil
every three to four years.
We grow meconopsis for their flowers, which
have a gentle butterfly like quality, and when
in bud the petals are of a distinct purple colour
opening to the most striking of all garden blues.
The stamens are pure gold in colour which helps
them stand out from the blue petals, another
welcome bonus are the small hairy seed pods
which are produced after flowering, the hairy
foliage is also a point of interest.
Try 聭Slieve Donard聮 with some yellow
flowered primula such as Primula helodoxa and
Primula florindae. Whatever combination you
choose I know you will not suffer the 聭blues聮
when these meconopsis are in flower!
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