How To Grow And Care For Forget-Me-Nots

Forget-me-not (Myosotis sylvatica) is a woodland ground cover that blooms blue flowers high above the green foliage in the spring. It is commonly used among the spring-blooming bulbs but can be grown in containers, woodland areas, borders, and cottage gardens. The species has blue flowers, less than an inch wide, with five rounded petals and a white or yellow central eye. Buds are pink so there is a two-tone, blue/pink appearance. However, there are pink and white flowered cultivars as well.

Easily grown from seed, this perennial is known for self-seeding and looks great when grown in masses. Sow seeds for this moderate-growing plant indoors about eight to 10 weeks before the last spring frost. In areas with milder climates, sow seeds directly in the ground in the summer or in early fall for blooms in the spring. In the South, the plant is not considered a noxious weed or invasive plant, but it is in some Midwestern states. Forget-me-not plants are deer-resistant, and the flowers attract bees and butterflies.

Plant Attributes

Forget-Me-Not Care

Forget-me-not is a spring-blooming, herbaceous perennial plant. It needs shade from the afternoon sun or a very light, dappled shade. It prefers moist but well-drained soil, high in organic matter, typical of a woodland. Often this plant is grown with spring-blooming bulbs, but forget-me-not plants are also used in the border as a bedding plant, in drifts under trees, and in containers. It will die in the winter and return in the early spring. This plant produces a lot of seed pods and is known for increasing by seed.

Light

Forget-me-nots need morning light and shade from the afternoon sun or light, dappled shade. The more sunlight the plant gets, the more water it will need.

Soil

Use well-drained, moist soil, high in organic matter (think woodland). It tolerates wet soil and prefers acidic, neutral, or alkaline soil that is kept evenly moist.

Water

This plant should not need supplemental watering.

Temperature and Humidity

A cool-season plant, forget-me-not thrives in the cooler temperatures of spring but may die back a little in the summer with the heat and humidity. Since it can be grown in several USDA zones, it can withstand a range of temperatures.

Fertilizer

This plant should not need supplemental fertilizer.

Types of Forget-Me-Nots

There are cultivars of Myosotis sylvatica:

• The 'Victoria series' is a compact type with blue, rose, or white flowers.

• The 'Sylva series' is compact with blue, rose, and white flowers.

• 'Blue Basket' is taller with a deeper blue.

• 'Ultramarine' has dark blue to lavender flowers.

Other Myosotis species are not grown for the garden in the South. However, there is one called true forget-me-not or water forget-me-not (Myosotis scorpioides) that has similar blue flowers but grows in a different environment. It prefers very wet soil, near ponds or streams. It can grow in shallow water, about 3 inches deep. This is a summer and fall bloomer and is difficult to find commercially. It is not as cold hardy as M. sylvatica and is not invasive or a noxious weed in the South but may be in some Midwestern states.

Pruning

Because forget-me-not self-seeds quite readily, it is advisable to deadheaded or prune, as in shear, the flowering stalks before they go to seed to prevent seed dispersal. Do this after its spring flush of blooms and before the summer when you can easily see the seed pods. Otherwise, forget-me-nots do not require pruning.

Propagating Forget-Me-Nots

Forget-me-not plants can be propagated by division. The best time is after its spring flush of blooms after you have deadheaded it, which would be early summer. Loosen with a garden fork around the perimeter of the plant. Then lift with hands and shake or wipe the soil off to see how best to divide. Divide so you have root as well as foliage and replant. Water it to get established.

How To Grow Forget-Me-Not From Seed

Forget-me-not is easy to grow from seed, either collected from already established plants or a purchased packet of seeds. You can either start seed indoors about eight to 10 weeks before the last spring frost date, under lights, or outside in the garden one to two weeks before the last spring frost or late summer/early fall for bloom the following year.

To start seed indoors under lights:

1. In clean seed-starting trays (with drainage holes), add moistened seed-starting mix. Sprinkle the seeds on top and press to make contact with the moist mix.

2. Place under grow lights or fluorescent tubes, leaving lights on for 14 to 16 hours per day. The lights have to be adjustable. They should be only a few inches away from the plant.

3. Mist with water frequently so seeds do not dry out. They mustn't dry out when they begin the germination process because germination will stop if allowed to dry and the seeds cannot be “revived.”

4. As the seed germinates and grows, you may have to adjust lights to continue to be only a few inches away from the plant.

5. As the seedling grows, you can water or mist less often because the roots have formed and can obtain water from a lower depth in the mix.

6. Thin the seedlings, which is to reduce the number to create space for the rest. Cut the weakest seedlings with nail or manicure scissors at the base. This will make room for the strongest. Best to cut, do not pull seedlings out as this will disrupt the rest of the seedlings.

7. When the last spring frost has passed, you can move outside to harden off. Harden off by putting in the shade first, protected from heavy rains and winds. Gradually move to the garden bed or container.

8. Water to establish the plants.

To start seed outdoors:

1. Prepare the soil first, making sure it is high in organic matter, loose, weed-free, and moist (water first).

2. Sprinkle seeds on top and press to make contact with the moist soil.

3. Water again and water until established.

Potting and Repotting Forget-Me-Nots

These flowers are usually grown as a ground cover, but that doesn’t mean they can’t be put in pots to add color to a patio, container garden, or even indoors. Use a pot with drainage holes that’s large enough to accommodate growth. Fill the pot with well-draining soil and add seedlings. Provide space around the plants so they’ll have airflow and room to grow. Place in a sunny location with shade from afternoon sun, and water to keep the soil moist. Pinch fading blooms to encourage growth. Repot every few years if the plant reseeds and begins to spread.

Overwintering

Forget-me-nots are very hardy plants that become dormant in the winter, so nothing needs to be done to overwinter the plants.

Common Pests & Plant Diseases

Forget-me-nots are generally pest resistant, but they may get aphids which will suck out the sap. You can spray water on the plant to dislodge them or spray with an insecticidal soap. The plants may get slugs, which you can lift and put in a container of table salt or sprinkle the plants with iron phosphate.

They are susceptible to a few fungal diseases such as rust, powdery mildew, and leaf spot. Powdery mildew makes the plant look like it is coated in a white powder, rust causes red/orange spores on stems and leaves, and leaf spot is characterized by dead or dying spots on the foliage. One can use a sulfur-based fungicide or prevent it by not watering at night or overhead. If this happens in the summer when the plant is already struggling because of the heat and humidity, it is best to prune the foliage off and trash (the plant should come back next spring). Another fungal issue is crown rot, web-like fungal growth at the base of the plant, which will kill the plant. For this, it is best to remove the plant.

Common Problems With Forget-Me-Nots

The most common problem is that forget-me-not plants self-seed and new plants appear in other areas in the garden. There are two ways to handle this: 1) cut off seed heads and put in the trash before they are allowed to disperse their seeds; and/or 2) every spring, when the ground is moist and the plant is emerging, just pull the young unwanted plants and put in the trash.

The second most common problem is that by summer, the plant has ceased blooming, and the foliage becomes unsightly and brown. Either trim the foliage back or let other plants cover the unsightly foliage. 

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do forget-me-nots live?

These flowers generally have a two-year life cycle, but because they self-seed, they generate more flowers for endless blooms.

Do forget-me-nots come back each year?

These short-lived perennials grow during one season and then flower and die the next. Blooms will continue to appear each season because they self-seed so readily.

Are forget-me-nots easy to grow?

These perennial plants are very easy to grow. Give them a sunny location with moist, rich, well-drained soil and enjoy their blooms. They seed themselves easily, so deadhead some or all of the flowers after blooming to control spread.

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