Myosotis, Genus, arvensis, Species,
- Genus & species
field forget-me-not
Europe, western Asia, and North Africa
SunFull Sun – Part Shade
WaterMedium
Overview
Field forget-me-not is an annual or winter-annual in the borage family, forming a slender, branched plant 4-16 inches (10-40 cm) tall and 4-8 inches (10-20 cm) wide. Stems and oblong leaves are covered in short, stiff hairs that give the gray-green foliage a rough texture. Basal leaves form a loose rosette 1-3 inches (2.5-8 cm) long, while smaller stem leaves alternate up the flowering shoots. Coiled flower clusters uncurl as they bloom, carrying many small flowers each 0.08-0.16 inch (2-4 mm) across. Petals open pale blue with a yellow center ring, though buds and newly opened flowers can show a pink tint. Flowers are followed by clusters of four smooth nutlets that detach and spread by wind, water, and soil movement. Myosotis arvensis grows quickly from seed, completing its cycle in a single season, and self-sows; in cultivated ground and gardens it can become weedy and crowd slower-growing plants. It tolerates a range of soils but declines in prolonged drought, when flowering shortens and plants set seed early.
Native Range
Native to Europe, western Asia, and North Africa. Myosotis arvensis has naturalized widely across temperate North America, where it occurs in fields, roadsides, and disturbed ground.Suggested Uses
Used in informal cottage plantings, wildflower areas, and the front of borders, where its low mounds of pale-blue flowers fill gaps between perennials. It naturalizes in meadow and woodland-edge settings. Container use is possible in mixed spring displays.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height4" - 1'4"
Width/Spread4" - 8"
Colors
Foliage Colors
Bloom Information
Blooms from April to September, with peak flowering in late spring. Each coiled cluster opens progressively from the base, so a single plant carries open flowers, buds, and developing nutlets at once. Flowering shortens to a few weeks in dry conditions as plants set seed early.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
pale blue with yellow eyeFoliage Description
gray-greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 4-8 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Water & Climate
Water Needs
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Grows in full sun to part shade in average, moist but well-drained soil with a pH near 5.5-7.5. Seed germinates in cool conditions, in autumn or early spring, and seedlings tolerate light frost. Steady soil moisture lengthens the flowering period, while drought stress triggers early seed set and decline. No fertilizer is needed in average garden soil, and rich soils produce lax, leggy growth. Plants complete their cycle in one season and die after setting seed, returning from self-sown seedlings the following year. Removing spent plants before nutlets mature limits unwanted spread.Pruning
No structural pruning is required for this short-lived annual. Shearing plants after the main flush can prompt a smaller second flush and reduces self-seeding. Spent plants are pulled once the foliage yellows.Container Growing
Suitable for container growing
Toxicity: Not assessed
UnknownPlanting Guide
Planting Methods & Timing
Planting Method
direct sow
Direct Sow Timing
early spring or autumn
Plant Spacing
6 inches
