Sunday, October 9, 2011

MYOSOTIS

This is a genus of around 50 species of annuals, biennials, and perennials of the borage family (Boraginaceae), with the centers of distribution in Europe, Asia, the Americas, and New Zealand. Most are small tufted plants with simple, blunt, lance-shaped leaves that are some times grayish and often covered in fine hairs. Their 5-petalled flowers are tiny but quite showy as they are usually borne in sprays on short branching stems. Most bloom in spring and early summer, and flowers are usually white, cream, pink, or various shades of blue and mauve. A German legend attributes the common name of forget-me-not to a lover who, while gathering the flowers, fell into a river and cried "forget-me-not" as he drowned.


CULTIVATION


These plants are very easily grown in any position, sunny or shady, as long as it remains moist during summer. Alpine species benefit from a gritty free-draining soil but the others aren't fussy. The perennials may be propagated from seed or by careful division in late winter, the annuals from seed sown in spring.


Top Tip


Relatively trouble-free, Myosotis species thrive in a cool, damp environment, and are especially suitable for woodland gardens or water-side planting.

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