Forget-me-not Myosotis scorpioides
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Forget-me-not:
Previously known as:
- Myosotis palustris
- Phonetic Spelling
- my-oh-SO-tis skor-pee-OY-dees
- Description
-
Forget-me-not is a flowering, marginally aquatic, herbaceous perennial in the Boraginaceae (Borage) family native to moist meadows and stream banks of Europe and Asia. At maturity, it is typically 10 inches high, although it can sometimes reach 18 inches, with sky blue flowers on upright stems. The leaves are evegreen. The genus name comes from the classical Greek myosotis meaning mouse ear and applied to plants with short pointed leaves. The species name means scorpion for the flower cymes that, when in bud and early bloom, resemble a coiled scorpion’s tail.
Forget-me-not are easy to grow in organic, consistently moist to wet soils in full sun to part shade. It will tolerate poor soil, including heavy clay. The plant loves water and will grow in up to 3 inches of standing water. It will spread by creeping rhizomes, but is not overly aggressive. Pinch young plants to promote growth. Plants will self seed.
This plant is a wildflower that escaped cultivation and has naturalized in wet places throughout many parts of North America. If additional plantings are desired, divide plant rhizomes in early spring. Stem cuttings may be taken in summer. For water garden planting, you can use 1 gallon containers with up to 3 inches of water over the crown to control spread. For planting by streams and ponds, place new plants directly in the soils of muddy banks at the water line. The plant naturalizes on banks of still and slow-moving water.
Forget-me-not spreads by means of creeping underground rhizomes to form dense colonies and it can become a flowering ground cover. On the other hand, it is listed as a noxious weed in one or more Midwestern states.
Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems:
No serious diseases or insect pests. Susceptible to mildew and rust.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Pond and Stream
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Alba'
Dainty white flowers bloom in summer. - 'Mermaid'
Prolific blue flowers on branching stems. - 'Semperflorens'
Dwarf, 6 to 8 inches tall with more blossoms and longer bloom time.
- 'Alba'
- 'Alba', 'Mermaid', 'Semperflorens'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Alba'
Dainty white flowers bloom in summer. - 'Mermaid'
Prolific blue flowers on branching stems. - 'Semperflorens'
Dwarf, 6 to 8 inches tall with more blossoms and longer bloom time.
- 'Alba'
- 'Alba', 'Mermaid', 'Semperflorens'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Myosotis
- Species:
- scorpioides
- Family:
- Boraginaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Root Cutting
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Europe, Asia-Tropical and Asia-Temperate
- Distribution:
- Throughout the United States, from Alaska to Georgia.
- Fire Risk Rating:
- low flammability
- Wildlife Value:
- True Forget-Me-Not attract small butterflies and dance flies attracted by the nectar.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 0 ft. 9 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
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-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Water Plant
- Wildflower
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Creeping
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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-
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:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Frequent Standing Water
- Moist
- Occasionally Wet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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-
Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Nut
- Fruit Description:
- Each flower is replaced by 4 small nutlets that are shorter than the persistent style.
-
-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Blue
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Cyme
- Raceme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Long Bloom Season
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Radial
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Blossoms appear in mid-summer and last to early fall. Light sky blue 5-lobed flowers (1/4 inch diameter) with yellow centers bloom in branched scorpioid cymes that uncoil as the flowers open. The cymes, particularly when in bud and early bloom, resemble a coiled scorpion’s tail.
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-
Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Rough
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Oblong
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Shiny, hairy, oblong to lance-shaped, bright green leaves (to 4 inches long and 1/4 to 3/4 inches across). Each leaf has a prominent central vein.
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-
Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Angular
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- The central stem is medium green, terete, and hairy. Flowers appear on these decumbent to upright, angular stems.
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-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Pond
- Landscape Theme:
- Rain Garden
- Water Garden
- Design Feature:
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Poor Soil
- Wet Soil
- Problems:
- Weedy
