# 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! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 10 - **Habitat:** Wetlands ![water forget-me-not](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Myosotis_scorpioides_-_Niitv%C3%A4lja_bog.jpg&width=800) Photo: Ivar Leidus, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Myosotis_scorpioides_-_Niitv%C3%A4lja_bog.jpg) ## 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. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Boraginales - **Family:** Boraginaceae - **Genus:** Myosotis ## 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 Rooter:** Water forget-me-not can grow roots directly into water or soggy soil, helping it thrive along stream banks. - **Floating Spreader:** If a stem breaks off, it can often float downstream and re-root, helping the plant colonize new areas. - **Sticky Seed Dispersal:** 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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Ornamental](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ornamental): Ornamental plants are cultivated primarily for their aesthetic appeal, enhancing landscapes and gardens with their attractive foliage, flowers, or form. - [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. - [Summer Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/summer-blooming): Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [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. - [Freshwater](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/freshwater): Freshwater habitats include non-saline aquatic environments such as rivers, lakes, ponds, and wetlands, vital for numerous species. ## 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 everyone to enjoy. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify water 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 water forget-me-not? 15-60 cm ### How wide does water forget-me-not spread? 30-90 cm ### How big are the flowers on water forget-me-not? 0.5-1 cm ### When does water forget-me-not bloom? Late spring to mid-summer ### Is water forget-me-not edible? Yes ### Is water forget-me-not toxic? None ### What is water forget-me-not's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Ridgewood Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/ridgewood-historic-district) — Ohio, US · Historic District - [South Hadley Canal](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/south-hadley-canal) — Massachusetts, US · Historic Site - [South Newbury Village Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/south-newbury-village-historic-district) — New Hampshire, US · Historic District - [Bailey Arboretum](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bailey-arboretum) — New York, US · Botanical Garden - [Bear's Den](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bears-den) — Massachusetts, US · Nature Reserve - [Blydenburgh Park Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/blydenburgh-park-historic-district) — New York, US · Historic District [View all places to see water forget-me-not](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/water-forget-me-not) ## 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*) --- Source: [Water Forget-me-not: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/water-forget-me-not)