Blue poppy, Tibetan poppy
Meconopsis grandis
Family: Papaveraceae
What it is like
A hairy herb. It grows to about 1 m high. It spreads about 40-60 cm wide. The leaves are sword shaped. The lower leaves are about 30 cm long. They have slight teeth. They are covered with stiff golden hairs. The flowers are blue. They occur singly or in groups of 3. The fruit is a capsule 5 cm long and with 4-6 valves.
There are 40 Meconopsis species. They are mainly from the Himalayas.
Where it is found
It is a temperate plant. In Nepal it grows between 3000-5000 m altitude. It grows in shady places among shrubs. It suits hardiness zones 5-9.
Countries/locations it is found in
Asia, Australia, Bhutan, China, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Myanmar, Nepal, Northeastern India, SE Asia, Sikkim, Tibet
How it is used for food
The seeds are roasted and pickled.
Edible parts
Seeds
How it is grown
Plants are grown from seed.
Its other names
Local names
Childar, Kyasar, Upa gnono, Upal ngongpo