{"id":33481,"date":"2024-03-19T16:22:57","date_gmt":"2024-03-19T15:22:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/94ebe76f-6511-4bd9-8973-a89671afc7c2"},"modified":"2024-03-19T16:34:52","modified_gmt":"2024-03-19T15:34:52","slug":"they-grow-like-weeds-at-this-time-of-year-but-these-tiny-flowers-can-look-beautiful-in-a-spring-garden","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/gardensillustrated\/rss_feed\/they-grow-like-weeds-at-this-time-of-year-but-these-tiny-flowers-can-look-beautiful-in-a-spring-garden\/","title":{"rendered":"They grow like weeds at this time of year but these tiny flowers can look beautiful in a spring garden"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"rssexcerpt\">The vivid-blue, starry-eyed, forget-me-not flowers of many members of the Boraginaceae family makes them unforgettable and there are plenty of options for adding their appeal to your garden <\/p><p class=\"rssauthor\">By Matthew Biggs\n      <\/p><p class=\"rssbyline\">Published: Tuesday, 19 March 2024 at 15:22 PM<\/p><hr class=\"no-tts wp-block-separator\"\/><?xml version=\"1.0\" encoding=\"UTF-8\" standalone=\"yes\"?>\n<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\">\n<html><body><p>Forget-me-not flowers come from the plant family Boraginaceae, which comprises some 120 genera and 2,600 species, while the subfamily Boraginoideae is made up of 42 genera and more than 600 species. It includes annuals, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gardensillustrated.com\/plants\/biennials-sowing-when-how\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">biennials<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gardensillustrated.com\/plants\/flowers\/fast-flowers-quick-perennials-from-seed\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">perennials<\/a> with a few <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gardensillustrated.com\/plants\/21-annual-climbers\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">climbers<\/a> and large <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gardensillustrated.com\/plants\/trees\/trees-shrubs-for-birds-best\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">trees<\/a>. Many, not just <em>Myosotis<\/em>, are commonly known as forget-me-nots, while others with forget-me-not flowers are known as navelworts, bugloss and borage.<\/p><p><strong>Jump to <\/strong><\/p><ul><li><a href=\"#link-a\">How and when to sow forget-me-not seeds<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#link-b\">Where to plant forget-me-nots<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#link-c\">Conditions forget-me-nots will grow in<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#link-d\">How to propagate forget-me-not flowers<\/a><\/li><\/ul><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-landscape_thumbnail\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Myosotis sylvatica &#8216;Whitesylva&#8217; Forget-me-not<\/figcaption><\/figure><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"link-a\">How and when to sow forget-me-not flower seeds<\/h2><ol><li>Surface sow <em>Myosotis<\/em> species and cultivars in mid to late spring, on to moist, well-drained, peat-free seed compost and then either put the tray in a dark place or cover it lightly with compost.<\/li><li>Darkness is required for germination, which takes from less than a week to a month at 20\u00b0C.<\/li><li>Once seedlings are large enough to handle, prick them out, then transplant to their final position at 25cm apart. Seeds can also be sown directly where they\u2019re to flower once the danger of frost has passed.<\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gardensillustrated.com\/garden-equipment\/best-garden-rakes\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Rake<\/a> the ground into a fine tilth, then <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gardensillustrated.com\/garden-advice\/how-to\/planting-seeds-sowing-seeds\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">sow<\/a> in straight drills, so it is easier to identify and remove weed seedlings. The straight lines disappear as the plants grow. Forget-me-nots self-seed prolifically and can rapidly become a nuisance, so cut back after flowering.<\/li><\/ol><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"link-b\">Where to plant forget-me-nots<\/h3><p>Success with most of these plants relies on planting in the right location, so understanding their native habitats ensures you put the \u2018right plant in the right place\u2019. Most <em>Myosotis<\/em> cultivars are derived from <em>Myosotis scorpioides<\/em> (the water or marsh forget-me-not) and <em>Myosotis sylvatica<\/em> (the wood or garden forget-me-not).<em> Myosotis scorpioides<\/em>, from central and northern Europe, Asia and North Africa, is found in damp ditches, or shallow watercourses, in sun or light <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gardensillustrated.com\/garden-advice\/shady-gardens\/best-plants-for-shade\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">shade<\/a>, making it ideal for bog gardens or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gardensillustrated.com\/feature\/build-ponds-garden\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">pond<\/a> margins. <em>Myosotis sylvatica<\/em> is found in damp <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gardensillustrated.com\/gardens\/country\/cooks-farm-somerset\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">woodland<\/a> and mountain grassland to 2,000m, and needs well-drained soil and dappled shade.<\/p><p><em>Anchusa<\/em> grows throughout Central Asia and the Mediterranean, on hillsides, in poor, well-drained soil and full sun. <em>Omphalodes cappadocica<\/em> from Turkey and the Caucasus prefers moist, humus-rich soil, in cool, dappled shade, while <em>Brunnera<\/em> comes from the mountain forests of the Caucasus, where air is cool and moist and the soil rich, so place accordingly.<\/p><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"link-c\">Conditions forget-me-nots will grow in<\/h3><p>Forget-me-not flowers occur in a wide range of habitats from sea level to 4,000m from high-altitude alpine screes to lowland tropics. Most of those considered garden worthy are from cool temperate woodland, mainly from deciduous woods but occasionally <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gardensillustrated.com\/plants\/shrubs\/evergreen-prune-best-sun-shade\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">evergreen<\/a> forests of spruce, pine or fir. Many forget-me-not flowers found at high altitude grow in rock crevices and are snow covered in winter. Their hardiness rating is variable.<\/p><p><strong>Lovely forget me not flowers to grow<\/strong><\/p><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-myosotis-sylvatica\"><em><strong>Myosotis sylvatica<\/strong> <\/em><\/h3><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-landscape_thumbnail\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1709\" height=\"2560\" src=\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/40\/2020\/04\/EY875P-9d05f93-scaled.jpg?crop=3px,433px,1704px,1135px\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-17581\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Myosotis sylvatica forget-me-not &#8211; \u00a9 Matt Gibson\/Alamy Stock Photo<\/figcaption><\/figure><p>A pretty, variable, late spring to early summer flowering forget-me-not perennial, often grown as a biennial, with grey-green leaves and loose clusters of abundant bright pale-blue, fragrant flowers with a yellow eye emerging from deep-pink buds. Good for pollinators. 50cm. RHS H6, USDA 3a-8b.<\/p><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-omphalodes-linifolia\"><em><strong>Omphalodes linifolia<\/strong><\/em><\/h3><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-landscape_thumbnail\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1707\" height=\"2560\" src=\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/40\/2020\/04\/ag_1306_238-8b43b5f-scaled.jpg?crop=4px,4px,1699px,1132px\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-17580\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Omphalodes linifolia forget-me-not &#8211; \u00a9 Annaick Guitteny<\/figcaption><\/figure><p>A pretty annual, found in dry, open habitats in southwest Europe and northwest Africa, often on highly alkaline soil. Produces long racemes of fragrant, white, forget-me-not flowers in summer. Ideal in a sunny, raised position and easy from seed. 50cm. AGM. RHS H3.<\/p><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-omphalodes-cappadocica-starry-eyes\"><strong><em>Omphalodes cappadocica<\/em> \u2018Starry Eyes\u2019<\/strong><\/h3><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-landscape_thumbnail\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1707\" src=\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/40\/2020\/04\/DSC7192_1-280724f-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-17578\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Omphalodes cappadocica &#8216;Starry Eyes&#8217; forget-me-not &#8211; \u00a9 Jason Ingram<\/figcaption><\/figure><p>A more-or-less evergreen perennial that forms dense clumps of fast-growing, heart-shaped, mid-green leaves. The spring flowers, which always stay just ahead of the leaf growth, appear in airy sprays and are lightly tinted pale blue with a deeper blue star in the centre. 50cm. RHS H5, USDA 6a-9b.<\/p><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-myosotidium-hortensia\"><strong><em>Myosotidium hortensia<\/em> <\/strong><\/h3><p>needs gritty, moist, free-draining soil in a sheltered frost-free position. It prefers mild climates and, in colder climates, to be under glass. It also flourishes in pots of John Innes No.2 or a similar loam-based<a href=\"https:\/\/www.gardensillustrated.com\/feature\/best-compost-potting-garden\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"> compost.<\/a><\/p><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"link-d\">How to propagate forget-me-not flowers<\/h3><p>Propagate by sowing fresh seed in autumn, as soon as it is ripe, or by dividing plants in spring. Keep the compost moist and feed monthly with a seaweed-based liquid fertiliser, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gardensillustrated.com\/garden-advice\/how-to\/what-is-mulching-mulch\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">mulch<\/a> with seaweed where possible. Anchusa can be propagated by seed, but if you want to be sure to maintain the intense blue flowers of named cultivars, you will need to take softwood or root cuttings from mid-autumn into winter. Anchusa are tap-rooted so will need a deep planting hole and shouldn\u2019t be moved during the growing season or you risk damaging the tap root, which rules out propagation by division during active growth.<\/p><p><em>Omphalodes<\/em> can be seed-sown in pots in a cold frame in spring or you can propagate by division or by cuttings in early spring. <em>Brunnera<\/em> can also be propagated by division or root cuttings in early spring or by root cuttings in winter. <em>Lithodora diffusa<\/em> should be propagated by taking semi-ripe cuttings from July until September.<\/p><div class=\"wp-block-group highlight-box is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container\"><p><strong>You may also like<\/strong><\/p><ul><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gardensillustrated.com\/plants\/spring\/spring-flowers-best\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Spring flowers: the best spring flowers to plant<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gardensillustrated.com\/gardens\/gardens-to-visit\/virtual-garden-tours-best\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Nine virtual garden tours to do from home<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gardensillustrated.com\/plants\/planting-ideas\/100-beautiful-and-useful-plants\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">100 beautiful and useful plants<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-origins-of-forget-me-not-flowers\">Origins of forget-me-not flowers<\/h3><p>Found mainly in the temperate northern hemisphere, particularly in the Mediterranean, as well as in Australasia, South America and South Africa; some genera are almost exclusively located in the tropics. Flowering season is early spring to late summer.<\/p><div class=\"wp-block-group highlight-box is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container\"><p><strong>Where to see and buy forget-me-nots<\/strong><\/p><p>Beth Chatto Gardens Elmstead Market, Colchester, Essex CO7 7DB. Tel 01206 822007, <a href=\"http:\/\/bethchatto.co.uk\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">bethchatto.co.uk<\/a><\/p><p>Bide-A-Wee Cottage Gardens Stanton, Netherwitton, Morpeth, Northumberland NE65 8PR. Tel 01670 772004, <a href=\"http:\/\/bideawee.co.uk\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">bideawee.co.uk<\/a><\/p><p>Burncoose Nurseries Gwennap, Redruth, Cornwall TR16 6BJ. Tel 01209 860316, <a href=\"http:\/\/burncoose.co.uk\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">burncoose.co.uk<\/a><\/p><p>National Collection of Omphalodes and Brunnera Mrs J Pumfrey, Hearns House, Reading, Berkshire RG4 9DE. Tel 0118 972 2848.<\/p><\/div><\/div> <\/body><\/html>\n<hr class=\"no-tts wp-block-separator\"\/>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The vivid-blue, starry-eyed, forget-me-not flowers of many members of the Boraginaceae family makes them unforgettable and there are plenty of options for adding their appeal to your garden <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":33482,"template":"","categories":[1,51],"acf":{"readingTimeMinutes":"5"},"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/48\/2024\/03\/they-grow-like-weeds-at-this-time-of-year-but-these-tiny-flowers-can-look-beautiful-in-a-spring-garden.jpg",1709,2560,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/48\/2024\/03\/they-grow-like-weeds-at-this-time-of-year-but-these-tiny-flowers-can-look-beautiful-in-a-spring-garden-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/48\/2024\/03\/they-grow-like-weeds-at-this-time-of-year-but-these-tiny-flowers-can-look-beautiful-in-a-spring-garden-200x300.jpg",200,300,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/48\/2024\/03\/they-grow-like-weeds-at-this-time-of-year-but-these-tiny-flowers-can-look-beautiful-in-a-spring-garden-768x1150.jpg",768,1150,true],"large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/48\/2024\/03\/they-grow-like-weeds-at-this-time-of-year-but-these-tiny-flowers-can-look-beautiful-in-a-spring-garden-684x1024.jpg",684,1024,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/48\/2024\/03\/they-grow-like-weeds-at-this-time-of-year-but-these-tiny-flowers-can-look-beautiful-in-a-spring-garden-1025x1536.jpg",1025,1536,true],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/48\/2024\/03\/they-grow-like-weeds-at-this-time-of-year-but-these-tiny-flowers-can-look-beautiful-in-a-spring-garden-1367x2048.jpg",1367,2048,true]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"importmanagerhub@sprylab.com","author_link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/gardensillustrated\/author\/importmanagerhubsprylab-com\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"The vivid-blue, starry-eyed, forget-me-not flowers of many members of the Boraginaceae family makes them unforgettable and there are plenty of options for adding their appeal to your garden","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/gardensillustrated\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rss_feed\/33481"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/gardensillustrated\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rss_feed"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/gardensillustrated\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/rss_feed"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/gardensillustrated\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/24"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/gardensillustrated\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/33482"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/gardensillustrated\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=33481"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/gardensillustrated\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=33481"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}