Myosotidium hortensia

Myosotidum hortensia, the Chatham Island forget-me-not, is a perennial which is rare in cultivation and is also becoming scarce in its native habitat. This plant has a unique and somewhat strange appearance with glossy hosta-like foliage and large clusters of forget-me-not flowers. It likes a humid, mild winter and temperate summer climate in well-drained, acidic, rich, and slightly moist soil and tolerates salt spray. In colder regions it can be grown in a large pot, sheltered in a cold greenhouse during winter.

Myosotidum hortensia (synonym Cynoglossum nobile) is in the borage family, just like forget-me-nots. It is an endemic New Zealand species found on the Chatham Islands. In the wild, it grows on coastal cliffs, rocky outcrops, and beaches. Its root forms a large creeping rhizome just below the surface of the soil. The vegetation forms a rosette measuring about 40 cm (16in) in all directions (1 m (3ft) in New Zealand). The ovate leaves are very wide, thick, leathery, beautiful bright green, shiny, and heavily puckered, halfway between hosta and Bergenia leaves. Between March and May, beautiful sky blue flowers turning violet appear, like forget-me-nots but larger. Each flower measures about 1.5 cm (1in) in diameter, tightly packed on strong stems. After pollination, black, flattened seeds about 1 cm (0in) big are formed. The foliage is evergreen the plant is hardy to around -10 °C (14°F) when mature, in a sheltered position.

Myosotidum can be grown in the ground under suitable climate and soil conditions or in a shallow pot to give more control of the growing medium and watering,  overwintering in a bright, frost-free location. This plant does not tolerate heat, drought (both in soil and air), or limestone.