The Charming Largeseed Forget-Me-Not: A Beginner’s Guide

As an avid gardener, I’m always on the lookout for beautiful yet easy-to-grow flowers to add to my garden. Recently, I discovered the largeseed forget-me-not (Myosotis macrosperma) and fell in love with its delicate charm. In this beginner’s guide, we’ll explore why this tiny annual wildflower deserves a spot in gardens everywhere.

An Overview of Largeseed Forget-Me-Nots

The largeseed forget-me-not is a spring-blooming annual native to central and eastern North America. This humble wildflower in the borage family typically grows to 6-18 inches tall and spreads 1-2 feet wide

It’s named for its tiny, light blue flowers with yellow centers that appear in spring. Each flower measures less than an inch across. When the flowers fade, small nutlets form in clusters. As the name suggests, largeseed forget-me-nots produce larger nutlets than other forget-me-not species.

These wildflowers thrive in partial sun to full shade and moist, well-drained soil. They readily self-seed, often creating beautiful swathes of blue in wooded areas and stream banks Largeseed forget-me-nots are also found in fields, roadsides, and other disturbed sites.

Why Grow Largeseed Forget-Me-Nots?

Here are some of the top reasons to add these wildflowers to your garden

• Easy care. Largeseed forget-me-nots are low-maintenance and undemanding once established.

• Self-sowing. The nutlets spread readily on their own, creating effortless flowering patches year after year.

• Long bloom time. Largeseed forget-me-nots flower for 6-8 weeks in spring.

• Attracts pollinators. Bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects visit the nectar-rich flowers.

• Groundcover. The low, spreading form makes an attractive flowering groundcover.

• Tolerates shade. Forget-me-nots thrive in shade where many flowers fail.

• Adds spring color. The light blue blossoms brighten shady beds and woodland gardens.

• Native plant. As a native wildflower, largeseed forget-me-nots benefit local ecosystems.

How to Grow Largeseed Forget-Me-Nots

If you’d like to welcome largeseed forget-me-nots to your own garden, here are some tips:

Sun and soil needs: Plant in part sun to full shade. Largeseed forget-me-nots thrive in slightly acidic, consistently moist soil enriched with organic matter. Avoid hot, dry sites.

Starting from seed: Sow seeds directly in the garden in late fall or early spring. Lightly press them into soil, but don’t cover. Seeds need light to germinate. Keep soil moist.

Transplants: Move starter plants to the garden after the last frost. Space about 8 inches apart.

Caring for established plants: Top dress with compost each spring. Apply a thin layer of mulch to conserve moisture. Irrigate during droughts. Avoid fertilizing, which encourages foliar growth over flowers. Trim back rampant plants to control spread.

Propagating: For more plants, divide clumps after flowering. Largeseed forget-me-nots also readily self-sow. Transplant seedlings to your preferred locations in fall or spring.

Potential problems: Slugs and snails, foliar diseases if plants sit wet. Ensure good air circulation.

Designing With Largeseed Forget-Me-Nots

Looking for ways to showcase largeseed forget-me-nots in your garden? Here are some design ideas:

• Allow them to naturalize in wooded, wilder areas of your landscape.

• Feature them as an airy groundcover around trees, shrubs, and perennials.

• Underplant them under deciduous trees & shrubs where they’ll flower before canopy leaf-out.

• Include drifts in woodland gardens combined with ferns, wild ginger, and other shade-lovers.

• Plant as a flowing border along pathways, fences, and structures.

• Tuck them into rock garden nooks and shady courtyards.

• Allow them to mingle with spring ephemerals and bulbs.

• Include in meadow or prairie gardens. They grow well with native grasses.

• Use as edging plants along beds and borders.

Companion Plants for Largeseed Forget-Me-Nots

Here are some great options for flower and foliage pairings:

• Spring ephemerals: Trout lily, bloodroot, Virginia bluebells, May apple, bellwort

• Spring bulbs: Snowdrops, crocus, squill, winter aconite

• Shade perennials: Astilbe, tiarella, ferns, wild geranium, Solomon’s seal

• Grasses: Hair sedge, fescues, wood oats

• Shrubs & Trees: Oakleaf hydrangea, viburnum, redbud, dogwood, serviceberry

Largeseed Forget-Me-Nots for Pollinators

As a native wildflower, largeseed forget-me-not attracts and nourishes a diversity of spring-active pollinators. Butterflies like the spring azure use it as a nectar source. Bees forage heavily on the flowers to feed their young. Planting drifts of this flowers creates an important early season feeding ground.

In Summary

If you have a shady spot begging for naturalistic spring charm, look no further than the largeseed forget-me-not. This versatile North American native brings delicate beauty to gardens from March through May. And with their self-sowing habit, a single planting can give you years of enjoyment. Add some largeseed forget-me-nots to your own landscape this spring and enjoy their beautiful blooms!