True Forget-me-not Myosotis scorpioides

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.