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Forget-me-nots cultivar

True forget‑me‑not (Myosotis scorpioides)

species; marginal aquatic

V Written by Editorial Team · Updated January 2026

True forget‑me‑not (Myosotis scorpioides) is a rhizomatous, marginal aquatic species for pond edges and consistently wet soils. It carries light sky‑blue flowers over a long season in late spring and summer. Plants creep slowly and root at the nodes to make small colonies. It performs best in full sun to part shade with saturated to shallowly submerged soil. Introduced from Europe and Asia, it is now naturalized in many wet places across North America.

Clusters of small blue forget-me-not flowers with yellow centers beside a weathered wooden fence
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True forget‑me‑not (Myosotis scorpioides)

species; marginal aquatic

At‑a‑glance

  • Group/Class: species; marginal aquatic
  • Height × spread: 6 to 10 in × 9 to 12 in (15 to 25 cm × 23 to 30 cm)
  • Bloom window: May to August
  • Color & flower form: light sky‑blue five‑lobed flowers with yellow eye in coiled cymes
  • Fragrance: 0 none
  • USDA hardiness: zones 5 to 9
  • Breeder / Year / Origin: unknown
  • Pet safety: safe

How it differs

  • thrives in saturated soil and along pond margins
  • longer bloom window than typical woodland forms
  • spreads by rhizomes and rooting stems
  • taller and more sprawling than compact bedding types

Strengths

  • excellent for rain gardens and water features
  • long bloom in cool summers
  • handles wet soil well
  • attractive to pollinators

Care in one minute

Site in full sun to part shade at the water’s edge or in saturated soil.

Use loamy, organic soil; keep crowns just above standing water for best growth.

Do not allow soil to dry out; plants can be shallowly submerged.

No heavy feeding is needed; top‑dress with compost in spring.

Trim back after flowering to control spread and encourage fresh growth.

Monitor for escape and remove from natural streams where restricted.

Watch‑outs

  • can spread along waterways in favorable climates
  • check local advisories before planting near natural streams
  • needs constant moisture to look its best

Best uses (tags)

  • water gardens
  • pond margins
  • rain gardens
  • naturalizing

Provenance note

Native to Europe and western Asia, Myosotis scorpioides is widely naturalized in North America; it is also known by the synonym Myosotis palustris.

References

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Written by: Your Flowers Guide editorial team
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