Maas Nursery

Forget-me-not (Myosotis)

Diminutive forget-me-nots are welcome spots of color in shady, damp spots. They've been called "the heart's darlings of the garden" and have inspired many legends. One is that a German knight picked them for his lady on riverside walk; when he tripped and fell in, tossing her the bouquet he cried, "Forget me not!" Since then, these nostalgic flowers have shown up on pond shores and brooksides. Contrary to what many people think, forget-me-nots aren't always blue: They can be pink or white, but they always have five petals.

Myosotis Sylvatica

Woodland forget-me-not is a dainty shade-loving annual or biennial only 6 to 12 inches tall. This rugged little flower, hardy in Zones 5 to 9, will self-sow and naturalize in acidic soil. Every spring it sparkles in a froth of tiny flowers in blue, soft rose or white, sometimes all on one plant.

Myosotis Sylvatica

Insider's secret

Forget-me-nots are easy to grow from seeds. Sow them outdoors in a cold frame or anywhere in the garden during the fall in mild regions for bloom the next spring. (Saw in early spring in cold-winter areas.) Seeds need darkness to germinate and like rich, moist soil. Once they get growing, they'll produce drifts of pastel blooms in only about six weeks.

Thin young forget-me-not plants to about 10 inches apart. They tend to spread as wide as their height and will develop into full, rounded plants only when they have room to spread their roots.