Blue Forget-Me-Not Seeds - Myosotis sylvatica

The Myosotis sylvatica, also given the poetic nickname of Wood Forget-Me-Not or Woodland Forget-Me-Not, offers the simplest and the most deliciously romantic of all blue flowers. This annual or short-lived perennial whose much appreciated blue lavender flowers appear in the springtime, wanders around the garden, unexpectedly cropping up as a bright carpet at the foot of bulbs, shrubs and perennials. This plant is so happy in our climates that it self-seeds durably over the years, becoming a timeless, almost eternal companion in our gardens. It has a distinct preference for rather moist, rich and free-draining soil, in the half shade of undergrowth or in sunny flowerbeds and rockeries.

Wood Forget-Me-Not is a plant from the Boraginaceae family, native to prairies, open undergrowth and the forest edges of almost all of Europe, except for the most northern and south-western reaches. This short-lived perennial is generally grown as an annual and forms small rosettes of pubescent, pale green foliage from which hairy stems that are well-branched in their upper parts, emerge from April to June, bearing 30 cm high curved inflorescences that lengthen as the flowers open. They are composed of fragrant, lavender blue flowers with yellow centres that are 5 mm in diameter. Once well established, the Wood Forget-Me-Not self-seeds freely in the garden.

The Woodland Forget-Me-Not is traditionally used as a filler whose airy blooms set off bulbous plants in the springtime (daffodils, Narcissus, common cowslip), dwarf irises or tulips. You can also plant it in large groups in perennial beds, borders and window boxes. In the warmest regions, it will enjoy growing in the undergrowth in the company of bleeding hearts. The light blooms of the wood forget-me-not are very decorative in spring bouquets especially when combined with bigger flowers (such as peonies and roses). Its motto could be : ‘Sow it once, you will have it forever.’