Myosotis scorpioides
Water Forget-Me-Not
a perennial evergreen member of the Myosotis genus in the family Boraginaceae.
Taxonomy and growth
- Family
- Boraginaceae
- Genus
- Myosotis
- Life cycle
- perennial
- Foliage
- evergreen
- Height
- 0.3 m
- Spread
- 0.6 m
- Fertility
- Bees, Flies, Lepidoptera
- Flower type
- hermaphrodite
- Pollinators
- Bees, Flies, Lepidoptera
Uses
Medicinal uses
Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Used in the treatment of whooping cough and bronchitis[7].
Environment
- Range
- Europe, including Britain, from Scandanavia south and east to N. Africa and the Himalayas N. America
- Habitat
- Wet places by streams and ponds[3].
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- light shade
- Water
- aquatic
- Hardiness
- Zone 5+
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy, clay, heavy clay
- Soil pH
- acid, neutral, alkaline
- Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
- No
- Drought
- intolerant
Propagation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Seed - sow outdoors in situ in late spring or early summer. Germination usually takes place within 2 - 4 weeks at 20°c. Division in spring[2]. Large divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found that it is better to pot up the smaller divisions and grow them on in light shade in a cold frame until they are well established before planting them out in late spring or early summer. Cuttings of young shoots, summer in a shady border[2].
Cultivation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Prefers a wet soil but thrives in a moist shady border[2]. Grows well in heavy clay soils. Does well on pond edges[5]. Prefers a sunny position[1]. Plants are hardy to about -20°c[4]. A long-lived species[4], it spreads freely when growing in marshy ground[6]. Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer[6].
References
F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00
Sanders. T. W. Popular Hardy Perennials. Collingridge 1926-00-00
Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962-00-00
Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Perennials Volumes 1 and 2. Pan Books 1991-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30936-9
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Thomas. G. S. Perennial Garden Plants J. M. Dent & Sons, London. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0 460 86048 8
Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202