What’s Doing the Blooming? Forget-me-not!

Forget-me-nots
Myosotis sylvatica Woodland Forget-me-nots

Each spring the forget-me-nots insist they be remembered! As I drive through town I see their delicate blue clouds, cheerfully appearing over perennial beds and borders. They often go dormant once our summer heat ramps up, making them easy to forget from one year to the next.  Forget-me-nots can spread readily by seed but I would not consider them invasive.

Myosotis sylvatica Woodland Forget-me-not
Myosotis sylvatica Woodland Forget-me-not

They will often surprise us, popping up in places we don’t always expect, but they are seemly welcome wherever they appear. This is the fun of forget-me-nots! Plant them in part shade for the best bloom and for longer lasting plants.  They prefer rich soil and can handle moist locations provided they aren’t in standing water. Forget-me-nots  would thrive along rain gardens and creek beds, in moist woodland gardens, or near a downspout.   At 5-12 inches tall they are often used in mass as a groundcover.

Myosotis 'Unforgettable'
Myosotis ‘Unforgettable’

Myosotis ‘Unforgettable’ is a unique selection with variegated leaves. It produces the same classic forget-me-not blue flowers with bright yellow centers, but with lovely cream variegation running along the foliage.  Truly a memorable plant!

Myosotis 'Unforgettable'
Myosotis ‘Unforgettable’