Also known as the Welsh poppy, Meconopsis cambrica is the free spirit of the garden—turn your back for a moment, and it might seed itself somewhere unexpected (and somehow look great doing it). Its nodding yellow or orange blooms float above delicate, ferny foliage from late spring into autumn.
Growing to about 45–60cm tall and gently self-seeding to form cheerful drifts, it thrives in part shade with moist, well-drained soil. Tougher than it looks, it’s happy in wild corners, cottage gardens, or cracks in stone walls. Basically, it’s the wildflower equivalent of that effortlessly cool friend who always arrives fashionably late—but makes it work.
