I have had visitors who have asked if my
blue poppies are genetically modified. The colour does seem unlikely, but they are natural and
I would love to see them in the Himalayas one day. Their names have become very confused in the
trade, but to find the best blues, and the more reliably perennial plants, I recommend
veering towards either the George Sherriff hybrids or the sheldonii hybrids, among
which 'Slieve Donard' is hard to beat.
They like a humus-rich acid soil and a cool, moist climate, and dislike competition and invading tree
roots. I have also learned the hard way the importance of giving them water during dry spells, feeding
them regularly, and dividing them every few years. They are plants you have to keep an eye on. Z7