MECONOPSIS BAILEYI

Evening Star, Issue 20570, 23 August 1930, Page 26

MECONOPSIS BAILEYI

Few plants of recent introduction seem to have created so much wellmerited interest as the above, and garden lovers are indebted to Captain Kingdom Ward for its introduction. This extraordinary poppy is a woodland species, and those who wish to sec this exquisite flower at its best should grow it under woodland conditions —namely, in partial shade with plenty of loafmould mixed with tho soil. When planted in wind and sun and drier conditions tho lovely green of tho foliage is apt to become - brown and scorchedlooking. Ono gardener has had good results from a hatch of seedlings planted out beneath the shade and shelter of a huge oak tree, where the plants measured from 4ft- to Bft in height and in their flowering season produced as many as thirty handsome saucer-like blooms on each plant of that lovely Cambridge blue which lias so popularised them. Tlio flowers are 4in across, and each ono lasts about a week and docs nob fade with ago. At first they close up at night and droop to tho stem, but later they remain widely epen. Shelter is absolutely necessary. Six buds coming in a group at the top and opening first make tbo plant slightly top heavy, and the softest band chafes tho stem unless passed over a leaf. The plant is perennial. A packet of seed will sometimes give varying shades in blue, but all with lovely golden anthers which set otf the blue petals to groat advantage.