Forget-Me-Not

Forget-me-not (Myosotis sylvatica), also called woodland forget-me-not, is a low, spring-flowering plant with small blue flowers that have yellow or white centers. It is native to Europe and Asia and has naturalized in many parts of North America. The plant typically grows to about 1 foot (30 cm) tall. It flowers in April and May, with some blooms again in mid-summer. Plants self-seed freely, and sometimes aggressively, so they often persist in the garden for years.

To bloom the same year, start seeds indoors about 8 to 10 weeks before the last spring frost date. For blooms the following year, plant seed in the ground in mid-summer instead.

Choose a spot in full sun to part shade, with some afternoon shade in hot summer climates. The plant prefers organically rich, consistently moist, well-drained soil, but it will adapt to loam or clay-loam if kept moist, and it tolerates shallow standing water. It is suited to patio and container planting.

Keep the soil consistently moist. Deadhead right away to encourage more flowers and limit seeding. To prevent self-seeding, remove or cut back old plants.

No diseases or insect pests are known for this plant, but it is susceptible to mildew and rust. It is generally pest-free but susceptible to powdery mildews.

Aggressive self-seeding can become a nuisance, and the plant is listed as a noxious weed in one or more Midwestern states.