# broadleaf forget-me-not (*Myosotis latifolia*)

The broadleaf forget-me-not is a lovely little flower with bright blue petals. It grows in many places and is known for its sweet name, reminding us to remember our friends.

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Snaps:** 1
- **Habitat:** Wetlands

![broadleaf forget-me-not](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Myosotislatifolia.jpg&width=800)

Photo: sztalker777, CC BY 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Myosotislatifolia.jpg)

## Appearance

The broadleaf forget-me-not has small, vibrant blue flowers, each with a bright yellow center, clustered at the ends of its stems. Its distinguishing feature is its softly hairy, broad, oval-shaped leaves, setting it apart from other, narrower-leaved forget-me-not varieties.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Order:** Boraginales
- **Family:** Boraginaceae
- **Genus:** Myosotis

## Interesting facts

- In some cultures, giving these flowers is a symbol of true love and remembrance.
- Its small flowers often grow in a coiled "scorpion tail" shape before fully opening.
- The name "forget-me-not" means "do not forget me" in many languages!
- The tiny yellow 'eye' in its blue flower guides insects to the nectar!

## Special abilities

- **Hitchhiker Seeds:** broadleaf forget-me-not has tiny, hooked seeds that can latch onto animal fur or clothing, helping them travel to new places.
- **Shade Seeker:** broadleaf forget-me-not has broad leaves that efficiently capture sunlight, allowing it to thrive in the dappled shade of woodlands.
- **Self-Propagator:** broadleaf forget-me-not can readily self-seed, dropping its seeds nearby to create new plants and expand its patch.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 15-60 cm
- **Spread:** 15-30 cm
- **Flower Size:** 0.3-0.8 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Spring to summer
- **Edible:** No
- **Toxicity:** None
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** European honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Visits flowers for nectar and pollen.
- **Eats:** [Garden snail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/garden-snail) (*Helix aspersa*) — Snails sometimes feed on its leaves.
- **Eaten by:** [Deer mouse](https://www.snappit.app/explore/deer-mouse) (*Peromyscus maniculatus*) — Mice sometimes eat its seeds.

## Traits

- [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
- [Spring Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spring-blooming): Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth.
- [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense.
- [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.
- [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wetland): This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs.

## Collections

- [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Always look but don't pick flowers, so they can keep growing for others to enjoy.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify broadleaf forget-me-not?

Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is broadleaf forget-me-not?

15-60 cm

### How wide does broadleaf forget-me-not spread?

15-30 cm

### How big are the flowers on broadleaf forget-me-not?

0.3-0.8 cm

### When does broadleaf forget-me-not bloom?

Spring to summer

### Is broadleaf forget-me-not edible?

No

### Is broadleaf forget-me-not toxic?

None

### What is broadleaf forget-me-not's lifecycle?

Perennial

## Where to spot

- [Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/armstrong-redwoods-state-natural-reserve) — California, US · State Park

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

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Source: [Broadleaf Forget-me-not: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/broadleaf-forget-me-not)