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Forget-me-nots cultivar

Chinese Forget‑Me‑Not

species; annual or biennial

V Written by Editorial Team · Updated January 2026

Chinese forget‑me‑not (Cynoglossum amabile) is a cool‑season annual or biennial often grown for sprays of clear blue flowers. It is not a true Myosotis, but a relative in the borage family. It performs best in spring and early summer and can be used as a light cut flower. Plants prefer sun with good drainage and even moisture. In hot summers bloom declines by late season.

Close-up of tiny blue forget-me-not flowers with yellow centers and fuzzy buds and stems
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Chinese Forget‑Me‑Not

species; annual or biennial

At‑a‑glance

  • Group/Class: species; annual or biennial
  • Height × spread: 12 to 24 in × 8 to 12 in (30 to 60 cm × 20 to 30 cm)
  • Bloom window: late spring to first frost
  • Color & flower form: blue five‑petaled flowers in branched cymes; occasional pink or white forms
  • Fragrance: 0 none
  • USDA hardiness: grown as annual in most regions
  • Breeder / Year / Origin: unknown, unknown, China
  • Cut‑flower notes: good for cutting; slender stems; vase life varies by conditioning
  • Pet safety: avoid

How it differs

  • taller than most true forget‑me‑nots
  • better suited to cutting gardens
  • more sensitive to heat and humidity
  • contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids that are a problem for grazing animals

Strengths

  • long bloom from seed in one season
  • easy to grow and self‑seeds
  • useful blue for annual borders and bouquets
  • works in containers with regular water

Care in one minute

Grow in full sun to light shade with well‑drained soil.

Sow or plant in cool weather; provide regular water without waterlogging.

Do not over‑fertilize; excessive nitrogen reduces bloom.

Pinch once to encourage branching; deadhead to extend flowering.

Monitor for mildew and space plants for airflow.

Watch‑outs

  • powdery mildew can occur in crowded, humid sites
  • declines in prolonged heat
  • avoid where horses or livestock graze

Best uses (tags)

  • cutting
  • annual borders
  • containers
  • pollinators

Provenance note

Native from central Nepal to central China, Cynoglossum amabile is widely cultivated as an annual and may reseed.

References

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Written by: Your Flowers Guide editorial team
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