water forget-me-not

Myosotis scorpioides

Water forget-me-nots are pretty little flowers that grow near water. They have bright blue petals and are loved by butterflies and bees!

Habitat: Wetlands

Appearance

The water forget-me-not has tiny, five-petaled, bright blue flowers with a small yellow center, growing in loose, curling clusters. Its stems and lance-shaped leaves are often covered in fine hairs, forming a soft green mat in wet areas, distinctly different from garden varieties.

KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderBoraginalesFamilyBoraginaceaeGenusMyosotis

water forget-me-not

Interesting facts

Ancient legends say a knight, falling, yelled 'Forget-me-not!' to his love, giving the flower its name!

Each tiny blue flower holds a secret bright yellow or white center, like a tiny bullseye!

Its Greek name, 'Myosotis,' charmingly means 'mouse ear' because of its fuzzy leaf shape!

This amazing plant can often survive with its roots completely underwater for long periods!

Special abilities

Water forget-me-not can grow roots directly into water or soggy soil, helping it thrive along stream banks.

If a stem breaks off, it can often float downstream and re-root, helping the plant colonize new areas.

Its tiny seeds can attach to animal fur or feathers, helping them travel to different watery habitats.

Measurements & details

Height: 15-60 cm
Spread: 30-90 cm
Flower Size: 0.5-1 cm
Bloom Season: Late spring to mid-summer
Edible: Yes
Toxicity: None
Lifecycle: Perennial
Pollination Method: Insect

Ecological connections

pollinates

Buff-tailed bumblebee

Bombus terrestris

Visits flowers for nectar and pollen.

pollinates

European honey bee

Apis mellifera

Gathers nectar and pollen from the small blue flowers.

eaten by

Mallard duck

Anas platyrhynchos

Ducks may occasionally graze on the plant's leaves and stems.

eats

Great pond snail

Limnaea stagnalis

Snails can be found grazing on the plant's submerged parts.

Traits

Flowering

Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.

Ornamental

Ornamental plants are cultivated primarily for their aesthetic appeal, enhancing landscapes and gardens with their attractive foliage, flowers, or form.

Spring Blooming

Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth.

Summer Blooming

Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished.

Colorful

Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.

Pollinator Magnet

Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.

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.