Myosotis: planting and sowing

Description and Botany

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Myosotis, also known as “love grass” or “forget-me-not,” is a herbaceous plant from the Boraginaceae family, native to meadows, clearings, and forest edges in temperate regions of Europe. The genus comprises 50 species of myosotis, of which Myosotis sylvatica and Myosotis alpestris, or Alpine forget-me-not, are the most common and offer numerous cultivars with blue, white, or pink flowers. The colour of the flowers and the habit of these varieties can vary. These myosotis are very close to the Caucasian forget-me-not (Brunnera macrophylla), omphalodes, and bugloss. These four plants are quite similar in terms of their flowering. The Myosotis scorpioides, or marsh forget-me-not, also thrives in marshes, meadows, and wet woods, reaching heights of up to 60 cm.

Myosotis is a short-lived perennial, typically grown as an annual or even biennial.

It grows in clumps with a bushy habit, more or less compact, formed of small rosettes of foliage. Small in stature, it does not exceed 10 to 30 cm in height. Once well established, it will return on its own as it has a tendency to self-seed abundantly in the garden and naturalise!

Myosotis has very decorative deciduous foliage, valuable for adding a lot of freshness to a woodland garden. Its leaves alternate along the pubescent flower stems and are ovate to lanceolate, hairy, and rough. They are simple, entire, with a well-visible midrib and tapering to a point at the tip, resembling mouse ears. The entire plant is covered in short hairs characteristic of the Boraginaceae family. These leaves are light green to pale green in most myosotis. Some varieties also feature golden foliage, such as Myosotis alpestris ‘Aurea’.

From this rough vegetation, small flowers emerge from March to June, grouped in cymes at the tips of the branching stems in their upper part.

The flowers are gathered very densely but with an extreme lightness, reaching about twenty centimetres in length. They are small star-shaped inflorescences with a very delicate appearance, measuring 3 to 10 mm in diameter, composed of fused petals and 5 included stamens. They are generally a pure, extremely vivid blue, almost electric, close to indigo with a small yellow eye surrounded by pure white (Myosotis sylvatica ‘Royal Blue’, ‘Savoie Bleu’). Although less common, some varieties such as Myosotis sylvatica ‘Snowsylva’ (White sylva) offer pure white flowers. The flowers can also be bright soft pink with a lighter throat and speckled with a yellow centre, as seen in the varieties ‘Rose’ and ‘Rosylva’, or more rarely scarlet red in the Alpine forget-me-not ‘Roi Des Carmins’. This starry flowering stands out against the green foliage, with the shades harmonising gently to create a very fresh and natural appearance.

Flowers of Myosotis in various colours

The delicate flowers of myosotis add lightness to spring bouquets.

Slightly fragrant and melliferous, they attract pollinating insects. Small pods containing the seeds appear after flowering.

Easy to grow, myosotis adapts to any ordinary, cool soil, in partial shade or dappled sunlight in warm regions. It thrives in woodland and, with its bushy habit, will easily find its place in natural or wild and romantic gardens.

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Main species and varieties

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Another Interesting Variety

Myosotis sylvatica Bluesylva - Forget-me-not

This variety is distinguished by its very early and abundant flowering until June, with pure blue flowers that are almost 'electric'. Magnificent for creating a colourful carpet in perennial beds, borders, and in window boxes.

• Flowering time April to July
• Height at maturity 20 cm

See the full description

Forget-Me-Not Indigo Compacta Seeds - Myosotis sylvatica

This selection is a more compact, lower, and bushier form of wood myosotis, offering flowers in a deeper blue. Very comfortable in the garden, it thrives in flowering pots that adorn the terrace or balcony.

• Flowering time May to July
• Height at maturity 20 cm

See the full description

Pink Forget-Me-Not Seeds - Myosotis sylvatica

This myosotis is available in its pink form. It allows for beautiful combinations with white or blue forms, in light undergrowth, in beds, borders, and window boxes.

• Flowering time May to July
• Height at maturity 30 cm

See the full description

Blue Forget-Me-Not Seeds - Myosotis sylvatica

Here is myosotis in its simplest and most delightfully romantic version! You can plant it in large groups in perennial beds, borders, and in window boxes.

• Flowering time May to July
• Height at maturity 30 cm

See the full description

Myosotis sylvatica Savoie Blue

A superb new variety that offers flowers from the first autumn after planting. Particularly compact, it is perfect for pot or window box cultivation and is distinguished by its very early flowering.

• Height at maturity 15 cm

See the full description

Myosotis sylvatica Snowsylva - Forget-me-not

This myosotis offers pure white flowers. It is perfect for brightening the dappled shade of undergrowth.

• Flowering time April to July
• Height at maturity 20 cm

See the full description

Sowing and planting

Where to Sow and Plant Forget-Me-Not

Forget-Me-Not grows effortlessly in all our gardens, as it is a plant that naturally thrives in woodlands. However, it disappears with frost and is cultivated as an annual, but the plant self-seeds abundantly after flowering year after year, popping up unexpectedly wherever it pleases. While it adapts to any soil, it prefers rather cool, fertile, and well-drained soil.

It flourishes in non-burning sunlight or in the dappled shade of a woodland and will prefer a shaded exposure in our warmest regions.

Forget-Me-Not is very comfortable in the garden, in perennial borders, edges, and rockeries where it lightens the blooms. With its fresh flowering, it always creates scenes of great delicacy that are very natural and stands out in natural or wild gardens to bring lightness and a candid, romantic touch. It is particularly interesting for forming carpets of blue, white, or even pink flowers in the garden. For a beautiful decorative and spectacular effect, plant it in groups, in the shade of trees or elsewhere. It will also thrive in flowering pots and window boxes that adorn the terrace or balcony.

When and How to Sow

Sowing Forget-Me-Not is done in the nursery from May to early September and in open ground in August. “Sow it one day, and you’ll always have it!” is a motto written for it!

In Seed Trays

• Sow the seeds on the surface of moist, well-drained potting soil
• Cover them lightly with potting soil
• Seal in a polythene bag and keep your sowings between 15 and 20ºC
• Keep moist and in light during germination, which usually takes 14 to 30 days
• Transplant into individual pots
• Move to the garden in autumn when the plants have 5 to 6 leaves
• Water regularly to aid establishment

Sowings made in September will spend the winter in a cool, frost-free location and will be transplanted to the garden in spring when there is no more frost, spacing them 15 to 20 cm apart.

In Open Ground

• Sow broadcast in well-prepared soil at a depth of 6 mm, in rows spaced 30 cm apart
• Water lightly and keep moist to encourage germination
• Thin out, keeping only the strongest plants spaced 15-20 cm apart

Transplanting Forget-Me-Not Seedlings

When and how to plant Myosotis?

If you prefer to opt for our Myosotis in plug plants, it’s just as simple! Planting Myosotis in open ground should preferably take place in autumn, from September to November for spring flowering the following year, or in March. You can plant them in groups (up to 16 plants per m²) in perennial beds, borders, or in a woodland area.

In open ground

1. Space the plants 15 to 30 cm apart depending on the varieties
2. Soak the pots in a basin of water
3. Loosen the soil well
4. Dig a hole three times the volume of the plug plant
5. Spread gravel at the bottom of the planting hole
6. Place the plug plant
7. Backfill with garden soil mixed with a bit of compost as it prefers soils rich in organic matter, and gravel
8. Firm down well
9. Water generously
10. Continue to water in the weeks following planting

Planting Myosotis in pots

You can plant Myosotis in pots or window boxes. Space the plants 15 cm apart.

1. At the bottom of a drainage hole container, spread a layer of gravel or clay balls
2. Fill half the pot with substrate
3. Place and plant the plug plant in a well-draining mix of garden soil, coarse sand, and potting compost
4. Cover and water regularly as soon as the soil is dry

Maintenance and Care

Forget-me-nots require very little maintenance. As they prefer soil that remains fairly moist: water during summer droughts or if the weather is dry. However, they do not need a lot of water.

In pots or containers, ensure regular watering even in winter, but always without excess.

Cut the flower stems down to the ground after flowering, or leave a few in place if you want the plant to self-seed. Remove any overcrowded plants.

In spring, tidy up the clumps by removing dry leaves.

Diseases and potential pests

Little susceptible to diseases, forget-me-nots are only threatened by powdery mildew and slugs.

In warm, humid weather, a white fluff may appear on the leaves and young shoots. As a preventive measure, ensure there is enough space between the plants to avoid the appearance of the fungus. Water at the base without wetting the foliage and spray with nettle manure or Bordeaux mixture. You can find our tips for combating white disease.

The deciduous foliage disappears in winter, reappearing in spring, when the young leaves are a delight for slugs. Make sprays of fern manure to keep them away and discover our 7 ways to fight slugs effectively and naturally and how to make a slug trap.

Multiplication of Myosotis

By sowing

It multiplies very easily by sowing. It is in the nature of Myosotis to self-seed, but not always reliably in the garden. You can collect the young rosettes from these spontaneous sowings at the beginning of spring and replant them wherever you choose. You can also harvest some seeds in autumn and sow them as indicated in the section “When and how to sow Myosotis”.

By division

This technique has the advantage of being quick and it allows for the preservation of true varieties. You can proceed during spring.

1. Dig up a clump with a fork, removing it carefully
2. Divide a few outer sections with roots
3. Clear excess soil around the roots
4. Replant these sections without delay
5. Firm the soil and water

Associating forget-me-nots in the garden

Forget-me-nots are the perfect companion for other spring flowers. They have a knack for adding a touch of freshness and natural beauty to any scene, highlighting all other spring bulbs with their bright flowering. They create delicate floral cushions against a backdrop of Daffodils, Jonquils, and botanical tulips, in contrasting blue/yellow-green or in fresh white/blue scenes imbued with delicacy alongside wood anemones (Anemone nemorosa), Allium triquetrum, and white Scilla nutans.

An example of a successful association: Forget-me-nots and Allium triquetrum

When planted en masse, they will form a light and graceful border along a path. For a fresh scene, plant forget-me-nots in large patches in woodland settings with ferns, Solomon’s seals, hostas, and epimediums. In a harmony of blue and purple tones, forget-me-nots also pair beautifully with pulmonarias and brunneras (Caucasian forget-me-nots), which are very close relatives and offer spring flowering. Create waves of blue flowers by pairing them with muscari (‘Mount Hood’, ‘Azureum’). Add the bright Corydalis ‘Blue Panda’ and Heuchera ‘Green Spice’!

In a flowerbed, with primroses like Primula veris, lady’s mantle, daisies, and Viola cornuta ‘Sorbet Xp F1 White’, they will compose a naive and romantic spring scene. Early pink tulips (Triumph Tulip ‘Pink Diamond’) or white (Triumph Tulip ‘Calgary’) are also good companions as their graceful flowering lightens the blooms. The Myosotis sylvatica ‘Rose’, a lovely pink-flowered variety, will be very decorative surrounded by Vinca minor ‘Atropurpurea’ at the base of roses or peonies to highlight their large voluptuous flowers. In a lovely planter, mix a forget-me-not with pansies, small daffodils, crocuses, muscari, or primroses.

An idea for association: Tulip ‘Sweetheart’, Milium effusum ‘Aureum’, Erythronium pagoda, Euphorbia amygdaloïdes ‘Purpureum’, Aquilegia ‘Green Apples’, Alchemilla mollis, and forget-me-nots