Chinese Forget-Me-Not

Chinese forget-me-not is a bushy plant with hairy, grey-green leaves and sprays of small blue, pink or white flowers. The flowers are about ¼ inch (6 mm) across and appear from late spring to the first frost. The blooms attract pollinators. It is easy to grow from seed and can bloom in its first year. Plants typically reach 1 to 2 feet (30 to 61 cm) tall and 8 to 12 inches (20 to 30 cm) wide.

Varieties. The named varieties ‘Blue Showers’, which has an upright habit, and ‘Firmament’, which has scalloped petals, are listed on the same profile.

Sowing. Sow the seeds outdoors in spring, as soon as the soil can be worked. Cover the seeds lightly with soil, because they need darkness to germinate. For earlier flowers, start seeds indoors 3 to 4 weeks before the last frost and transplant them out after the last frost. For flowers in the same year, sow early under glass.

Germination. Seeds usually sprout in 5 to 8 days when kept at 65 to 70 °F (18 to 21 °C).

Site and soil. Plant in full sun or partial shade. The plant does best in moderately fertile, moist but well-drained soil. It can also be grown in a container.

In warm climates, plant it where it gets afternoon shade. It does not perform well through long, hot summers, and its blooms fade in late summer and do not continue into fall. Cut the plants back after flowering. Avoid overwatering, which can lead to fungal growth.

Powdery mildew can affect this plant. Leaving enough space between plants improves airflow and helps reduce powdery mildew. The plant is generally pest-free. It reseeds itself freely, and some gardeners consider it weedy.

Horses are a concern: the plant is listed as a problem for horses, and liver disease can occur if they eat large amounts or eat it over a long time. Some pages rate the whole plant as having low-severity poison characteristics, but they do not say which part or how much would be harmful to people. No cat or dog toxicity information is given in these pages.