These two images were taken in the bed where I grow perennial blue poppies in Wick, Caithness - in the very far north of Scotland. They are in an open field but with a netting wind break round them. Over many years I have never lost a single plant here and propagated on from many by division. They also set really large amounts of seed. Most of these are the hybrid x  Lingholm but there are several forms of the true species of M. grandis. The climate in Caithness is cool and usually moist and this is why they grow well. I grow these plants here in Fife on the dry east coast of Scotland and I struggle to keep them, especially in a hot summer. The black Phormisol sheeting is an effective weed suppressant and helps retain soil moisture