Originally, the forget-me-not was a wild plant that was often found on river banks and in the forest. The pretty spring flower was only grown as an ornamental plant for the garden in the 19th century. There are now many different varieties that can be annual, biennial or perennial.
What types of forget-me-nots are there?
There are different species of forget-me-nots, including the forest forget-me-not (Myosotis sylvatica), alpine forget-me-not (Myosotis alpestris), field forget-me-not (Myosotis arvensis), lawn forget-me-not (Myosotis laxa), swamp forget-me-not (Myosotis scorpioides), prostrate forget-me-not smeinnicht (Myosotis decumbens) and colorful forget-me-not (Myosotis discolor).
Ornamental plants and wild herbs in many species
| German name | botanical name | one/biennial/perennial | Height | Location | Flowering time | Special features |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forest forget-me-not | Myosotis sylvatica | two-year-old | up to 30 centimeters | wooded edge | May | |
| Alpine forget-me-not | Myosotis alpestris | perennial | up to 20 centimeters | Alps | June, July | |
| Fieldforget-me-not | Myosotis arvensis | annual and biennial | up to 50 centimeters | Fields and meadows | April to October | very small flowers |
| Lawn forget-me-not | Myosotis laxa | two-year-old | up to 20 centimeters | Lawns and meadows | May to July | |
| Swamp forget-me-not | Myosotis scorpioides | perennial | up to 20 centimeters | swampy location | June | Pond edge plant |
| Lying Down | Myosotis decumbens | perennial | up to 40 centimeters | moist forests, river edges | June to August | |
| Colorful forget-me-not | Myosotis discolor | annual | up to 30 centimeters | Road and field edges | April to June | protected species |
Varieties that were bred from the forest forget-me-not are usually offered for the home garden. Swamp forget-me-nots are suitable for planting along pond edges.
Where is the forget-me-not native?
Forget-me-not species are found all over the world except for South America.
In Germany, most species occur in the wild. The colorful forget-me-not is on the red list.
Why does the forget-me-not have its name?
There are different legends for the unusual name of the wild and ornamental plant.
A legend says that the flower asked God not to forget it because of its small size. Other legends attribute the name to the blue color, which is said to resemble the eyes of new lovers. Forget-me-nots are considered flowers of loy alty and are given as a reminder of great love.
Wearing badges was forbidden during the Nazi era. As a replacement, the German Masonic lodges used the forget-me-not as an emblem. Even today, the blue flower is still considered a symbol for Freemasons.
Tip
The botanical name “Myosotis” comes from the Greek language and means mouse ear. Two plant species were probably confused here, as the flowers of the forget-me-not bear no resemblance to the ears of mice.
