Woodland forget-me-not (Myosotis sylvatica)

Woodland forget-me-not

Features and Characteristics

Myosotis sylvatica, commonly called forget-me-not, is a hairy, tufted, spring-flowering plant that typically grows to 5-12” tall. Small, 5-lobed, blue flowers (3/8” diameter) with yellow or white eyes bloom in dense cymes in spring (April-May), with some sporadic and intermittent additional bloom to mid-summer. Oblong-linear to oblong-lanceolate, hairy, green leaves (to 1-3” long). Although native to Europe and Asia, forget-me-not has escaped gardens and naturalized in a number of locations in North America.

Genus name comes from the classical Greek name myosotis from mus meaning mouse and ous or otos meaning ear applied to plants with short pointed leaves, later transferred to this genus.

Specific epithet means growing in the woods or forest-loving.

Care and Maintenance

Easily grown in organically rich, consistently moist, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. Plants appreciate part afternoon shade in hot summer climates such as the St. Louis area. Although technically a short-lived perennial, this plant is often grown as a biennial by planting seed in the ground in mid-summer for bloom the following year. It is also often grown as an annual by starting seed indoors about 8-10 weeks before last spring frost date for bloom the same year. Regardless of method, plants will persist in the garden for many years by freely and sometimes aggressively self-seeding. In formal garden areas (e.g., border fronts) where naturalization is not desired, some gardeners remove some flower cymes immediately after bloom to minimize self-seeding.

Woodland forget-me-not (Myosotis sylvatica) Requirements

Hardiness zone	3 - 8
Sun light	Full sun to part shade
Water	Medium
Maintenance	Low

Common Problems

No serious insect or disease problems. Susceptible to mildew and rust.

Uses

Bedding. Border fronts. Rock gardens. Wild gardens and woodland areas or around ponds where plants can be allowed to naturalize. Interplant with spring bulbs.

Woodland forget-me-not (Myosotis sylvatica) Details

Common name	Woodland forget-me-not
Botanical name	Myosotis sylvatica
Plant type	Herbaceous perennial
Family	Boraginaceae
Hardiness zone	3 - 8
Water	Medium
Maintenance	Low
Flower color	Blue with yellow or white eyes
Flowering period	April - May
Height	0.50 to 1 ft.
Width	0.50 to 0.75 feet