Asian beauty may represent Edinburgh

An Asian beauty may be chosen over a local stunner to represent the city of Edinburgh.

The blue poppy, also known as meconopsis x sheldonii, is the recommended choice to represent the Scottish capital's horticultural heritage even though its paternity lies with India, Nepal and China on the distant slopes of the Himalayas.

City elders dazzled by the poppy's blue petals are said to prefer it to the purple sticky catchfly, otherwise known as the Lychnis viscaria or sticky Nellie, which also has popular support.

George Anderson, head of the School of Horticulture at the Royal Botanic Garden, says the poppy is the perfect choice for the city's emblem.

"The blue poppy fits in very well with the whole idea as it is such a striking plant and it grows best in Scottish gardens, even though it comes from so far away.

"We wholeheartedly supported its recommendation, although there are a number of other contenders, such as the Dahlia 'Edinburgh' and the Calluna vulgaris 'Cramond'.

"The sticky catchfly is probably the best contender, but if you look at the two plants side by side, there really is only one choice.

"The catchfly is rather small and insignificant in relation to the meconopsis, which is much more striking, and that is what I think the council will be looking for."

One of the blue poppy's most ardent admirers was a Scottish botanist, the late Sir George Taylor, who published his study of the Himalayan bloom in his 20th century book, An Account of Genus Meconopsis.

When he retired as director of London's world famous Kew Gardens, he selected several forms of meconopsis x sheldonii to grow in his native Scotland.