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Chinese Forget-me Not Cynoglossum amabile

Other Common Name(s):

Phonetic Spelling
sign-oh-GLOSS-um a-MAH-bih-lee
This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
See below
Description

Chinese Forget-me-not is classified as a perennial, biennial and cool weather annual, all depending on where grown.    

In warmer climates, planting should be done in an area that receives shade in the afternoon.  This cool weather annual will not perform at its best when situated in climates that experience long, hot summers.  The bloom period will decline in the late summer and not extend into the fall.  

Easily grown from seed, it can bloom in the first year and continues to reseed itself for many months of sky blue flowers.  Its self-seeding tendencies make some declare it as weedy.  

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:  Powdery mildew can be an issue.  Allowing adequate space between plants will provide good airflow, thereby alleviating the powdery mildew issues.

Overwatering can lead to fungal growth.

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Blue Showers'
    Upright habit
  • 'Firmament'
    Scalloped petals
'Blue Showers', 'Firmament'
Tags:
#poisonous#full sun tolerant#drought tolerant#summer annual#herbaceous#bushy#herbaceous perennial#cutting garden#pollinator plant#naturalized area#poor soils tolerant#dry soils tolerant#problem for horses#heat intolerant#humidity intolerant#clay soils intolerant#wet soils intolerant#poisonous if ingested#weed
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Blue Showers'
    Upright habit
  • 'Firmament'
    Scalloped petals
'Blue Showers', 'Firmament'
Tags:
#poisonous#full sun tolerant#drought tolerant#summer annual#herbaceous#bushy#herbaceous perennial#cutting garden#pollinator plant#naturalized area#poor soils tolerant#dry soils tolerant#problem for horses#heat intolerant#humidity intolerant#clay soils intolerant#wet soils intolerant#poisonous if ingested#weed
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Cynoglossum
    Species:
    amabile
    Family:
    Boraginaceae
    Uses (Ethnobotany):
    Borders, beds
    Life Cycle:
    Annual
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Seed
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Central Nepal to Central China
    Wildlife Value:
    Pollinators are attracted to the flowers.
    Play Value:
    Attractive Flowers
    Attracts Pollinators
    Easy to Grow
    Dimensions:
    Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 0 ft. 8 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Annual
    Habit/Form:
    Rounded
    Growth Rate:
    Medium
    Maintenance:
    Medium
    Texture:
    Coarse
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    High Organic Matter
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Alkaline (>8.0)
    Neutral (6.0-8.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    Available Space To Plant:
    Less than 12 inches
    12 inches-3 feet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Description:
    The seedpod has five large seeds with a surface that can attach to animals or birds, thereby spread into the surrounding areas.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Blue
    Pink
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Cyme
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Good Cut
    Long Bloom Season
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Fall
    Spring
    Summer
    Flower Shape:
    Funnel
    Flower Petals:
    4-5 petals/rays
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    The plant will produce an abundance of showy sprays containing 1/4" flowers from late spring to the first frost.
  • Leaves:
    Leaf Color:
    Gray/Silver
    Green
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Leaf Shape:
    Lanceolate
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Hairs Present:
    Yes
    Leaf Length:
    > 6 inches
    Leaf Width:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Description:
    Both stalked basal leaves up to 8" long and smaller sessile stem leaves up to 3" are produced.
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Surface:
    Hairy (pubescent)
    Stem Description:
    It can grow as a single stem or multi-stemmed plant.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Container
    Meadow
    Naturalized Area
    Patio
    Slope/Bank
    Small Space
    Walkways
    Landscape Theme:
    Cottage Garden
    Cutting Garden
    Rock Garden
    Design Feature:
    Border
    Mass Planting
    Small groups
    Attracts:
    Pollinators
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Drought
    Dry Soil
    Problems:
    Problem for Horses
    Weedy
  • Poisonous to Humans:
    Poison Severity:
    Low
    Poison Symptoms:
    Horses: liver disease (must be ingested in large amount or over a long time period)
    Poison Toxic Principle:
    Pyrrolizidine alkaloids
    Causes Contact Dermatitis:
    No