Myosotis sylvatica (wood forget-me-not or just forget-me-not) is a species of flowering plant in the family Boraginaceae, native to Europe.

Description

It is a short-lived herbaceous perennial or biennial growing to 12–30 cm (5–12 in) tall by 15 cm (6 in) wide, with hairy leaves and a profusion of disc-shaped, intensely blue (occasionally white) flowers in Spring.

General view

Close up of calyx, background lines are 5mm apart

Calyx in its stem

Close up of flower, background square is 5mm across

Flower head - note how flat the petals are

Calyx with mature fruit inside, background lines are 5mm apart

Side 1 of mature fruit, background lines are 5mm apart

Side 2 of mature fruit, background lines are 5mm apart

Close up of stem, background square is 5mm across

Stace^[1] describes this plant as having the following characteristics:

• Upright, to 50 cm; softly hairy, with hairs at more-or-less right-angles to the main stem.
• Flowers grey-blue, to 8mm across, flat in profile; sepal tube with hooked hairs; April–July.^[2]
• Mature fruit dark brown, shiny.
• Mature calyx on spreading stalks longer than sepal tube; calyx teeth spreading to expose the ripe fruit.
• Basal leaves stalked, in a rosette; upper leaves not stalked.
• Generally found in woods, scree and rock ledges; common throughout the British Isles.

Cultivation

Widely cultivated throughout the temperate world, it is particularly associated with spring bedding schemes involving other spring-flowering subjects, notably daffodils, tulips, wallflowers and primulas. It is also the parent of numerous cultivars in shades of pink, blue and white;^[3] for instance 'Blue Ball', a compact variety which has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.^[4]

Other cultivars include:-

• 'Blue Basket', a taller variety with deeper blue flowers
• 'Music', erect and large flowered
• 'Pompadour', compact, ball-shaped with large rose-pink flowers
• 'Snowball', white flowers
• 'Ultramarine', dwarf with very deep blue flowers
• 'Victoria Rose', bright pink flowers

Notable Gardens

• Bank Hall, Bretherton, Lancashire

References