M. 'Kingsbarns'
A fertile cultivar of garden origin. This cultivar reportedly arose from a single plant of M. × sheldonii which produced viable seed. The resulting progeny were also fertile but variable in form and colour. In appearance it is similar to plants of M. grandis subsp. grandis. Originally named M. ‘Kingsbarns Hybrid' but renamed M. ‘Kingsbarns' on registration to meet the naming requirements of the ICNCP.
MG Rating: ★★   
Introduced by: J. Cobb. Named by: J. Cobb, 1989.
Registered by: The Meconopsis Group, 2006.
Flowering: May to early-June. A single blue or mauve-blue, 4 to 6 petalled, lateral facing, saucer-shaped flower arises from the false whorl of stem bracts. The undulate petals are elliptic to oval-elliptic in shape with only a slight overlap at their base. Initially the flowers open just above the foliage but their pedicels elongate very quickly and at maturity the fruit capsules are held well above the foliage.
Emerging foliage: Narrowly elliptic pale green leaves with almost entire margins. Leaf base attenuate and the apex acute.
Mature foliage: The mature basal leaves are similarly narrowly elliptic and attenuate with an acute apex. Their margins are essentially entire with only a few remote shallow teeth.
Fruit capsule: Broadly ellipsoid and glabrous. Short thick style. Filled with fully fertile seed.
Etymology: Named after the village in which James Cobb resided.