This perennial wildflower is 6-20' tall and either unbranched or branched. The central stem is medium green, terete, and hairy. The alternate leaves are 1-3' long and ¼-¾' across; they are oblong-elliptic or oblong-oblanceolate in shape, smooth along their margins, and sessile. The upper leaf surface is medium green and either hairless or sparsely covered with appressed hairs, while the lower surface is medium green and sparsely to moderately covered with hairs. Each leaf has a prominent central vein. The central stem (and any lateral stems) terminates in a raceme of flowers 2-10' long. The apex of this raceme curves laterally and slightly downward like a scorpion's tail. The central stalk of the raceme is medium green, terete, and covered with appressed hairs. The flowers occur on slender pedicels about ¼' long. Each flower is about 1/4-1/3' (6-8 mm.) across, consisting of a light blue corolla with 5 petal-like lobes, a short tubular calyx with 5 teeth, 5 stamens that are inserted within the corolla, and a pistil with a single style. The opening of the corolla is narrow and it is surrounded by a ring of yellow. The calyx is medium green and covered with appressed hairs; its teeth are shorter than the calyx tube and they are ovate in shape. The blooming period can occur from late spring to early fall. On each raceme, only a few flowers are in bloom at the same time. Each flower is replaced by 4 small nutlets that are shorter than the persistent style. The root system is shallow and fibrous. The base of a plant's stem is often creeping or stolon-like, where it can take root and produce clonal offsets. This often results in a colony of plants.

True Forget-Me-Not rarely naturalizes in the Illinois, where it is found primarily in the NE section of the state. It was introduced into North America from Eurasia as an ornamental garden plant. While True Forget-Me-Not has not been invasive in Illinois thus far, it has become aggressive in some areas of northeastern United States. Habitats consist of low areas along springs, ponds, and slow-moving streams where the supply of moisture is more or less stable.

Myosotis scorpioides L.:
Canada (North America)
Chile (South America)
United States (North America)
Ecuador (South America)

Note: This information is based on publications available through Tropicos and may not represent the entire distribution. Tropicos does not categorize distributions as native or non-native.

Myosotis palustris (L.) Nath.:
Canada (North America)
United States (North America)

Note: This information is based on publications available through Tropicos and may not represent the entire distribution. Tropicos does not categorize distributions as native or non-native.

Canada

Origin: Exotic

Regularity: Regularly occurring

Currently: Unknown/Undetermined

Confidence: Confident

United States

Origin: Exotic

Regularity: Regularly occurring

Currently: Unknown/Undetermined

Confidence: Confident

Distribution: Temperate Eurasia & N. America.

The species is similar to Myosotis caespitosa, but differs in the style equalling the calyx, calyx 1/3rd divided into acute lobes and corolla limb 5-7 mm broad.

True Forget-Me-Not rarely naturalizes in the Illinois, where it is found primarily in the NE section of the state. It was introduced into North America from Eurasia as an ornamental garden plant. While True Forget-Me-Not has not been invasive in Illinois thus far, it has become aggressive in some areas of northeastern United States. Habitats consist of low areas along springs, ponds, and slow-moving streams where the supply of moisture is more or less stable.

According to Müller (1873/1883) in Germany, the flowers of True Forget-Me-Not attract small butterflies and dance flies (Empis spp.); these insects feed on the nectar. Two polyphagous aphids, Myzus persicae and Rhopalosiphum padi, have been observed to suck plant juices from Myosotis spp. (Forget-Me-Not species) in Illinois (Hottes & Frison, 1931). When this wildflower forms colonies of plants along wetlands, it provides cover for snakes and small animals.

Foodplant / sap sucker
nymph of Dictyla convergens sucks sap of Myosotis scorpioides

In Great Britain and/or Ireland:
Foodplant / spot causer
immersed sorus of Entyloma fergussonii causes spots on live Myosotis scorpioides
Remarks: season: 5-7

Foodplant / open feeder
larva of Melisandra cinereipes grazes on leaf of Myosotis scorpioides
Other: sole host/prey

Foodplant / parasite
oospore of Peronospora myosotidis parasitises live Myosotis scorpioides

Plant / resting place / within
puparium of Phytomyza myosotica may be found in leaf-mine of Myosotis scorpioides
Other: major host/prey

Fl. Per.: April-May.

The following is a representative barcode sequence, the centroid of all available sequences for this species.


No available public DNA sequences.

Download FASTA File

Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLDS) Stats
Public Records: 1
Specimens with Barcodes: 7
Species With Barcodes: 1

Canada

Rounded National Status Rank: NNA - Not Applicable

United States

Rounded National Status Rank: NNA - Not Applicable

Rounded Global Status Rank: G5 - Secure

The preference is full or partial sun and wet to moist conditions. This wildflower adapts to ordinary garden soil containing loam or clay-loam if it is kept sufficiently moist. Shallow standing water is tolerated.

Found from 2200-2500 m.