Nice blue bunches of flowers sit on a low, quick-growing plant that finds a place in flower beds, along edges or on rocky terrain: the forget-me-not (Myosotis). Give it ground that stays cool, drains well and is enriched before planting, and it will flower right through spring for almost no work.
| Name | Myosotis |
|---|---|
| Family | Boraginaceae |
| Type | biennial or perennial |
| Height | 8 to 12 inches (20 to 30 cm) |
| Exposure | full sun, part sun |
| Soil | rather rich and cool |
| Foliage | deciduous |
| Flowering | March to May |
Often used to spruce up rocky ground, edges and flower beds, forget-me-not is a plant that is self-sowing and sometimes turns invasive.
For them to bloom in spring, it is recommended to plant perennial forget-me-nots (Myosotis salvatica for example) in fall.
Use a blend of garden soil, soil mix and if possible organic soil conditioner.
It is perfectly possible to plant during springtime and that’s even required for annual and biennial varieties.
As for the sowing, opt for sowing directly in the plot starting from the month of May and over the entire summer season.
Remove wilted flowers regularly. This is called deadheading. Since flowers last a few days, deadheading your forget-me-not twice a week is perfect.
Once all the flowers and leaves have wilted away, it’s possible to remove airborne portions of the plant that tend to look ungainly. This will prepare space for newer, fresher flower scapes.
Timing depends on whether your forget-me-nots are perennial, annual or biennial, and on whether you are planting or sowing. The table below sums up what the article says about each job and when to do it.
| Job | When | Which forget-me-nots | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plant out | In autumn (fall) | Perennial types, such as Myosotis salvatica | So that they bloom the following spring |
| Plant out | Springtime | Annual and biennial varieties | Spring planting is required for these |
| Sow directly in the plot | From May and over the whole summer | Plants raised from seed | Direct sowing in the ground is the option to choose |
| Deadhead | Twice a week | All forget-me-nots in flower | Flowers only last a few days |
| Cut back airborne parts | Once flowers and leaves have wilted | All forget-me-nots | Makes room for newer, fresher flower scapes |
Leave a few flowers unpicked at the end of the season and the patch will renew itself on its own.
This cute little perennial bears nice blue bunches of flowers.
It will find a place in your flower beds, along edges or on rocky terrain.
Forget-me-not can also be included in pot arrangements and garden boxes to flower any balcony and terrace.
Care is effortless and its growth is quick. Forget-me-nots bloom abundantly all spring long.
Let a few flowers go to seed and the patch will keep growing every year!
No need to water too much because forget-me-nots don’t really need a lot of water.
