The forget-me-not, which is often found in forests and fields in Central Europe, has been grown in gardens as a medicinal and ornamental plant for many centuries, although the former “magic herb” used to be found primarily in monasteries and herb gardens. Today there are numerous different varieties of spring bloomers that bloom not only sky blue, but also white, pink or purple.
What are forget-me-nots and how are they used?
Forget-me-nots are small, undemanding flowering plants that appear in various colors such as sky blue, white, pink or violet. They are suitable as ornamental plants in the garden, in beds or in planters and usually bloom between April and June.
Origin and distribution
Forget-me-not (bot. Myosotis) is also known as mouse-ear in some regions, which is also what the Greek genus name refers to: This means exactly that and refers to the shape of the leaves. The approximately 50 species in the genus are native to almost the entire world, with around 41 different species being found in Central Europe alone. It is not exactly clear where the lyrical name comes from. There are a number of legends relating to the origin of the name, which vary greatly from region to region. Everywhere, however, a bouquet of blue-flowering forget-me-nots is considered a sign of love, loy alty and farewell. Today, the small flower is no longer given such great importance; instead, the lushly blooming spring bloomer is often planted in the garden as an ornamental plant.
Usage
The pretty forget-me-not can be planted very well together with other spring bloomers and bulb flowers such as tulips and horned violets in the bed or as a border. For a colorful sea of flowers, it is best to choose species that bloom in May. The numerous flowers are particularly effective when they are sown in large numbers and thus form a larger carpet - especially since many species reproduce and spread quickly through root runners. This means that the forget-me-not can also be used very well as a filler plant to cover larger gaps. If you don't have a garden but have a balcony or terrace, you can also grow the attractive plant in a planter. The various hardy species are simply not suitable for indoor cultivation.
Appearance and growth
Depending on the variety, the forget-me-not grows between 20 and 40 centimeters high - sometimes even higher - and produces long flower shoots. Most species are one- to two-year-old, but there are also perennial varieties or the flowers sow themselves every year and tirelessly come back again and again. Initially, the young plants grow as a rosette and form long, slightly hairy leaves. The long, sometimes heavily branched flower shoots with terminal inflorescences only appear in spring. Many species are spring bloomers and show their splendor between April and June. Other varieties, however, bloom throughout the entire growing season until October. The small, five-fold flowers are usually light blue, although there are now also pink and white flowering cultivars. Some varieties are initially pink when they shoot and only later turn blue.
Toxicity
The forget-me-not is not poisonous, but - on the contrary - even edible. For this you use the delicate blue flowers, which, however, have only a slight taste of their own. This makes them all the more suitable as a pretty decoration for salads and soups, for example, or on bread. In folk medicine, the swamp forget-me-not in particular was previously used as a medicinal plant, although the attributed effects have not yet been proven according to scientific standards. That's why the little flower is almost only used in homeopathy, for example in chronic bronchitis or diseases of the lymphatic system.
Which location is suitable?
In terms of location, almost all forget-me-not species and their varieties prefer a sunny to partially shaded location, although the ability to bloom decreases with increasing shade. Basically, myosotis still thrive very well in light shade.read more
Floor
When it comes to the soil, choosing the right spot in the garden is no longer that straightforward, as the different types of forget-me-nots sometimes have very different requirements. Some prefer a sandy substrate, others need nutrient-rich, moist soil. Choose the right planting location - rock garden or pond edge - according to the needs of the selected species. Basically, you can't go wrong with a humus-rich, well-drained garden soil. The species that grow on fresh soil also prefer slightly acidic soil, which is why you should improve the potting soil with rhododendron soil or ericaceous soil. This substrate is also well suited for pot culture and can also be improved with compost.
Sowing
Most forget-me-not varieties for the garden are grown as biennials, i.e. H. You sow them in the summer months between the end of May and the end of July and only get flowering plants the following year. You can sow the seeds in bowls and cultivate them there or directly in the intended location. By winter, the plants have grown so much that they can survive the winter outdoors without any problems. And this is how sowing works:
- Prepare planting area, dig well and crumble
- Drawing furrows
- Sowing seeds and covering them lightly with soil
- Keep the soil moist and pull out weeds regularly
- Germination occurs at temperatures from 18 °C after around 14 to 21 days
- Prick out seedlings in August
- Keep a distance of approx. 20 centimeters
The young plants grown in this way often bloom from March onwards if the weather is right. For pot cultivation, you can also grow the young plants on the windowsill in winter, but they will then bloom much later.
Planting forget-me-nots correctly
In spring, however, early forget-me-nots are also available in many garden centers, which you can simply plant in the bed or pot yourself after the ice saints. This way you don't have to wait a whole year before you can enjoy the blue flowers. And this is how planting works:
- Select location
- loose up the soil well
- Removing stones, roots and weeds
- Put the forget-me-nots in a bucket filled with water
- If necessary, loosen the root ball with your hands first
- there the plants soak up moisture
- Plant plants 20 centimeters apart in the soil
- alternatively in tuffs of three to five plants
- don't put them deeper in the ground than they were in the container
- Press the soil well and water it
Make sure to maintain the specified planting distance of 15 to 20 centimeters - the plants spread quickly and then need space to grow.read more
Watering and fertilizing
Forget-me-nots are easy to care for and bloom profusely as long as you follow the following care rules regarding watering and fertilizing:
- Keep soil/substrate evenly moist
- Let the substrate surface dry between individual waterings
- water in the morning and evening if necessary in the hot summer months
- no waterlogging
- Do not pour over the flowers, but directly onto the ground
- Use low-lime rainwater
- fertilize three times a year with compost and horn meal/horn shavings
Cut forget-me-nots correctly
The flowering period of the forget-me-not can easily be extended by carefully pruning back dead shoots. In this way, the plants do not invest their energy reserves in the development of fruits and seeds, but instead develop a new flower flora. In addition, pruning immediately after flowering has the advantage that you prevent or limit self-seeding - for example by only leaving part of the flower stalks for the fruit to ripen. If no pruning is carried out after flowering, cut the forget-me-not just above the ground in early spring.read more
Propagate forget-me-nots
In addition to sowing, you also have the option of growing forget-me-nots vegetatively - i.e. H. propagate via cuttings or by division. These methods work best as follows:
Division
Large plantings of perennial species that are to be reduced in size and/or limited in their growth are particularly suitable for division. After flowering, take a sharp and clean spade and carefully dig up the plants in the desired area. This often works better with a digging fork, especially since fewer roots are injured with this tool. Divide the pieces into several pieces, each of which should have a strong root mass. Plant them separately in the new location, although such partial plants can also be cultivated very well in pots and other planters.
Cuttings
For the cuttings, cut off a few basal shoots with a sharp and clean knife by June - if possible after flowering - with the interface ideally between the root base and the stem. Make sure that there is a small piece of the root on each cutting, as the new root ball will develop from this. Dip the interface into a rooting powder (€8.00 on Amazon) and plant the shoots individually in pots with a nutrient-poor growing substrate. Alternatively, rooting in a glass of water is also possible, although you should only use lime-free water (e.g. rainwater) and change it daily. The addition of wood ash prevents the development of rot. The young plants come into the bed either in late summer or the following spring.read more
Wintering
Forget-me-nots are naturally hardy plants that cannot be harmed by frosty temperatures. Nevertheless, you can cover young specimens that were planted in autumn with leaves and straw and thus protect them from excessively cold temperatures and other winter hazards. Forget-me-nots grown in pots definitely need winter protection so that the root balls do not freeze. To do this, place the plant pot on a thick base made of Styrofoam or wood and wrap the planter with bubble wrap or a piece of gardening fleece.
Diseases and pests
Forget-me-not is quite susceptible to some fungal diseases such as gray mold (Botrytis) and powdery mildew. Avoid infection by keeping the crop airy, not watering from above and occasionally supplying the plants with a strengthening plant broth - field horsetail broth is particularly recommended here. If a fungal disease does break out, infected plants should be removed as quickly as possible and disposed of with household waste - this is the only way to prevent a larger-scale infection. When it comes to pests, aphids in particular cause problems for plants. These often appear when the location is rather dry.
Tip
Some of the higher-growing types of forget-me-nots can be wonderfully used as cut flowers for the vase, for example in a colorful spring or summer bouquet. To ensure that the bouquet lasts as long as possible, place the vase in a bright place and change the water every day. Nutrients, however, do not have to be added artificially, especially since the plants cannot absorb them without roots anyway.
Species and varieties
The forget-me-not (bot. Mysotis) is a genus of plants from the family Boraginaceae, comprising around 50 different species. 41 of the known species are also native to Central Europe. There are numerous cultivars of some that are often used as ornamental plants in the garden. The most important Mysotis species for the home garden are:
Field forget-me-not (bot. Myosotis arvensis)
The field forget-me-not is particularly delightful in the garden because of its very long flowering period: between April and October it tirelessly displays its numerous, branched flower shoots. The robust species usually grows as an annual to two-year-old and thrives best on nutrient-rich, fresh and clayey soil. The plants grow to a height of approx. 40 centimeters and can be used in many different ways.
Colorful forget-me-not (bot. Myosotis discolor)
The colorful forget-me-not has its name for a reason, after all, there are always different colored flowers on a plant. These are usually yellowish at first, later turn reddish and only later take on a blue-violet color. Yellow and blue flowers are often found together on the same specimen, which makes it easier to distinguish the variety from other Myosotis species. The annual, herbaceous plant is only between ten and 30 centimeters high and blooms between April and June. It thrives best on the edges of trees, along pine forests, on sandy lawns and along field and roadsides.
Hill forget-me-not (bot. Myosotis ramosissima)
The hill forget-me-not with its tiny, light blue to sometimes white flowers, which only grows to a height of approx. 25 centimeters, can be found especially in northern and central Germany. The annual species primarily inhabits sunny slopes and hills on sandy, dry soils and is therefore ideal for cultivation in rock gardens and gravel beds. The vigorous plant can also be used to green dry stone walls very well. The hill forget-me-not blooms between April and June.
Lawn forget-me-not (bot. Myosotis lax)
The lawn forget-me-not is exactly the right choice for moist to occasionally moist surfaces, as it also occurs in nature primarily on the wet banks of bodies of water. The species is mainly distributed in Northern and Central Europe. The plants reach a height of between 20 and 50 centimeters, do not develop any runners and show their blue-white flowers between May and August.
Sand forget-me-not (bot. Myosotis stricta)
The annual sand forget-me-not only grows up to 20 centimeters high and thrives best on sandy soils, so you can confidently cultivate the delicate spring-flowering plant on sandy lawns and stony surfaces. The species also occurs in nature on poor, sandy soils and is found primarily on dunes, along roadsides, on sandy fields and on rocky outcrops. The sand forget-me-not blooms from March and therefore very early in the year, and the flowering period lasts quite a long time until June.
Swamp forget-me-not (bot. Myosotis scorpioides)
The swamp forget-me-not is not only found in many damp areas of Germany - for example on the swampy edges of smaller lakes or ponds, along ditches or streams or generally along nutrient-rich bodies of water as well as on wet meadows and in swamp forests - but also an important garden plant for planting along the edges of garden ponds or streams. The species grows to a height of up to 80 centimeters and its flowers are extremely long-lasting: the flowering period extends from May to September. The swamp forget-me-not is a valuable food plant, especially for bees and butterflies.
Forest forget-me-not (bot. Myosotis sylvatica)
The two-year-old forest forget-me-not grows between 15 and 45 centimeters high and shows numerous sky-blue flowers between May and July. The species is particularly widespread in southern Germany and thrives primarily on the edges of sparse forests, but also on fat meadows and other locations with fresh and nutrient-rich soil. In addition to the wild form, there are numerous cultivated varieties for the garden, some of which can also be found in the wild. An attractive variety, for example, is the 'Rosylva' variety with numerous pink-purple flowers.
In addition, there are two equally pretty representatives of the plant genus, the two related species memorial (bot. Omphalodes verna) and the Caucasus forget-me-not (bot. Brunnera macrophylla), which also go wonderfully together with the various forget-me-nots listed here. allow species to be cultivated. Both varieties bloom between April and May and thrive best in fresh, humus-loamy soil. While the memorial plant is primarily used as a ground cover and quickly displaces weaker plants with its numerous runners, the Caucasus forget-me-not is an attractive perennial for sunny to partially shaded locations. The 'Variegata' variety of the Caucasus forget-me-not also scores with pretty, white-green variegated leaves.
