How to Grow Forget-Me-Nots (Myosotis sylvatica)
Like tiny pieces of bright blue sky dropped into your garden, forget-me-nots are one of the few true-blue flowers available to gardeners.
These plants are steeped in history and symbolism, and are easy beauties to grow.
We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. If you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission.
So go ahead, plan some of your very own!
Just read this article first to learn everything you need to know before you get started.
Cultivation and HistoryThe genus name Myosotis means “mouse ear,” named after the rounded shape of these plants’ fuzzy leaves.
There are about 100 species in the genus, and the majority of these are known commonly as forget-me-not or scorpion grass.
Found typically in temperate regions, some species occur in alpine areas.
Most species are native to western Eurasia and New Zealand, while only ten species are found growing wild in North America, South America, Africa, New Guinea, and Australia.
Although this plant had already been a favorite of French and German gardeners for centuries, it only became popular in British gardens in the 1800s.
Of the 100 species, there are three that are most commonly grown as garden plants.
Myosotis sylvatica, also called woodland forget-me-not, is a biennial native to Europe and parts of South Asia including Bhutan, India and Nepal.
It grows in woodlands, forests, and rocky places. This species is the most widely cultivated variety and it is the main focus of this guide, but some other species have similar growing requirements.
Prone to crowding out other native plants, this can become an issue when it escapes cultivation in non-native areas including North America and Australia.
Read more on gardenerspath.com
