Forget-Me-Not: Plant Care, Growing Tips, and Symbolism

Woodland forget-me-nots are short-lived perennials valued for their color, with numerous pink buds followed by small, attractive, half-inch five-petaled blue flowers. A short plant (often just 5 inches at maturity) with a medium growth rate, forget-me-not has hairy stems with single flowers growing at the end of bunches of flowering stems. It attracts butterflies and resists rabbits and deer.

Forget-me-nots are cold hardy. Although they can grow in the sun or shade, they prefer moist, woodland environments with dappled light. In warmer, southern climates with high heat, they grow best in a shady spot.

Although technically a perennial, most gardeners treat forget-me-not as a biennial, sowing seed in midsummer and enjoying the blooms the following year. It is used as a groundcover, in garden beds, woodland gardens, rock gardens, or containers. Deadhead flowers if you don't want them to overgrow in an area since they reseed readily and are invasive in some areas.

Forget-Me-Not Meaning and Symbolism

Woodland forget-me-nots (Myosotis sylvatica) are different from Chinese forget-me-nots (Cynoglossum amabile). The word "myosotis" in the species name comes from Greek words meaning "mouse ear." The plant's foliage has short, pointed leaves resembling mouse ears. A forget-me-not variety, Myosotis scorpiodes, also has a unique common name, "scorpion grass," for its flower clusters that curl like a scorpion's tail.

Forget-me-nots are a popular bridal flower for their symbolism. They historically symbolize true love, respect, fidelity, and devotion.

Forget-Me-Not Care

Here are the main care requirements for growing woodland forget-me-nots:

• Grows well in full sun or partial shade, preferring dappled light.
• Prefers moist soil; do not allow it to dry out.
• Handles heat and cold climates and does not like intense heat.
• It needs rich soil, augmented with compost or fertilizer annually.

Light

In the North, you can grow it in full sun or partial shade, although this plant prefers dappled light. At the southern end of its range, give forget-me-not afternoon shade. This plant does not like intense sunlight.

Soil

Forget-me-not prospers in organically enriched, consistently moist, well-drained soil. Never allow the soil to dry out. It grows best in neutral pH, although it handles slightly alkaline or acidic soil pH.

Water

Forget-me-not prefers wet soil. It can handle muddy or waterlogged soil and thrives near a stream, pond, or bog. The more sunlight it receives, the more water it will need.

Temperature and Humidity

With a range covering six USDA zones, forget-me-not withstands heat and cold well. Unless you're trying to grow it north of zone 3, you don't need to take measures to winterize it.

However, due to its susceptibility to powdery mildew disease, it isn't recommended for areas with intensely hot, humid summers.

Fertilizer

Fertilize forget-me-not with compost or general-purpose fertilizer annually. Follow the product label instructions for the amount of fertilizer to use.

Types of Forget-Me-Nots

There are about 100 species of forget-me-nots. Most are called forget-me-nots or scorpion grass. Some of these plants were historically used to treat wounds and some medical conditions. Other common types of forget-me-nots include:

• Small-flowered forget-me-not (Myosotis stricta)
• Broadleaf forget-me-not (Myosotis latifolia)
• Water forget-me-not (Myosotis scorpioides) 
• Field forget-me-not (Myosotis arvensis)
• Alpine forget-me-not (Myosotis asiatica)

Cultivars of Myosotis sylvatica with more options for color, plant size, or flower size include:

• Blue basket: Taller, deeper blue flowers
• Music: Flowers larger and deeper blue
• Pompadour: Compact growth habit; pink flowers
• Snowball: White flowers
• Ultramarine: Smaller plant; deep blue flowers
• Victoria blue: Compact growth habit
• Victoria rose: Pink flowers
• Victoria white: White flowers
  

Pruning

Forget-me-nots do not need pruning unless you want to trim away extra growth. You can remove dead or dried-up branches at any time, but the best time to trim overgrowth is immediately after the plant flowers.

Use sterilized pruners to remove the spent flowering stalks at the base. Basal pruning also prevents seeds from dispersing. Once you introduce it to your garden, you'll have it for many years (unless you actively suppress it).

Propagating Forget-Me-Not

Forget-me-nots are best propagated by seed and division. To divide it, here's how:

1. Dig up plants that have spread from the original.
2. Transplant them to other areas in spring. Dig the holes the same depth as they were growing previously. Place in the hole and backfill with soil.
3. Space them 10 inches apart. Water deeply to settle the plant.
   

How to Grow Forget-Me-Not From Seed

Forget-me-not plants are grown easily from seed, as evidenced by the plant's ability to reseed and spread. Here's how to sow seeds:

1. Source seeds by early summer.
2. Select a spot in the garden.
3. Prepare the soil by raking it to loosen it and smooth it out.
4. By midsummer, broadcast the seed across the surface.
5. Water lightly afterward and often enough to keep the soil moist.
6. Seedlings emerge in the fall; blooming will occur the following spring.
   

Potting and Repotting Forget-Me-Nots

Forget-me-not grows well in containers, whether outside in a shady spot or indoors. Plant it on its own in a 8- to 12-inch pot with good drainage filled with fresh potting mix. It also makes a good filler plant in a larger container with a mix of shade-loving plants. Keep the soil moist but not soggy and make sure the plant has good air circulation.

Indoors, keep the pot in a spot with indirect light and rotate the plant frequently to ensure even light exposure. Water the plant regularly to keep the soil evenly moist.

When the plant becomes root-bound, move it into a container one size larger than its current pot. Fill the new container with fresh potting mix, place the plant in the center and firm it into place with additional potting mix. Water it well to eliminate air pockets and allow the pot to drain.

How to Get Forget-Me-Not to Bloom

Bloom Months

Forget-me-nots typically bloom from April to May for several weeks.

What Do Forget-Me-Not Flowers Look and Smell Like?

The plant produces many dainty blue, pink, or white flowers, just under 1/2-inch across. The five-petalled star-like blooms have no discernible scent.

How to Encourage More Blooms

Provide rich, consistently moist soil for the longest blooming period and the most flowers. Deadhead spent flowers to encourage more flowers. Forget-me-not, as a biennial or short-lived, reseeding perennial, reblooms annually with minimal care.

Common Pests and Plant Diseases

Garden pests mostly leave forget-me-not alone, but aphids, slugs, and snails can sometimes become problematic. Aphids are sap-suckers that can be controlled by a regular spray of water or wiping them away by hand.

Slugs and snails are best eliminated by hand-picking and dropping them in soapy water. If the problem is extensive, use traps made of sunken bowls of beer around the plants. The fermentation smell entices the pests and drowns them. Reset and repeat until these traps no longer capture new slugs or snails.

Forget-me-nots are susceptible to two diseases: powdery mildew and rust. Powdery mildew is that light-colored, powdery covering on a plant's leaves. Seldom fatal, it temporarily ruins plants' appearance. Minimize it by avoiding overhead watering.

Common Problems

Forget-me-nots are easy plants to care for and grow. The biggest concerns with these plants are managing their spread and giving the right amount of water.

Managing Growth

These prolific self-seeders are best controlled by removing the seed heads or flowering stalk immediately as the flower begins to fade. Dig up new stands of emerging growth and transplant them to a new section of your garden to control overgrowth in one area. Or, remove and discard them if you want to limit them in your garden.

Wilting Leaves

Forget-me-nots are water lovers. If the plants look like the leaves are wilting and crispy, they are likely not getting enough water. If the leaves look wilting and limp, they may be getting too much water. Adjust the water level accordingly. If the problem continues, consider digging up the plant and replacing the soil with better-draining soil.