Forget-me-not is valued for its attractive flowers. While the blooms are usually blue, other colors do exist. The buds that come before the flowers are pink, so you get two colors for the price of one. These plants are herbs historically used as an astringent to treat wounds and some medical conditions.
A short plant (often just 5 inches at maturity) with a medium growth rate, forget-me-not has hairy stems. The five-petaled flowers grow in cymes, with a single flower on the stem in the middle and other flowers on stems that branch outward. Although small (3/8 inch), they provide a good color display because theyre numerous. It can grow in the sun or shade, depending on the region. It grows best in a shady spot in southern, warmer climates with high sun.
However, most people grow forget-me-not as a biennial, planting seeds in the middle of summer and enjoying the flowers the next year. Not hard to take care of, but you need to remove the dead flowers every so often if you don’t want it to spread too far. This plant reseeds readily; it is considered invasive in several states.
Forget-me-nots are delicate little flowers that bloom in spring and summer. With their five-petaled blooms and yellow centers they add a pop of color and charm to gardens floral arrangements, and more. But what exactly is the color of forget-me-nots? Let’s take a closer look at the hues of these iconic blossoms.
The Most Common Forget-Me-Not Color is Blue
The most commonly seen forget-me-not color is a light sky blue. There are over 50 species of forget-me-nots, but the one most prevalent in gardens is Myosotis sylvatica. This species displays clusters of light blue flowers from spring to early summer.
The blue color comes from anthocyanin pigments in the plant. These pigments help attract pollinators to the blooms. The light blue is noticeable and eye-catching against the backdrop of green foliage or brown earth in spring gardens. It’s no wonder this cheery shade has made blue forget-me-nots so popular.
Blue Forget-Me-Nots Can Range from Pale to Vibrant
While blue is the signature color, forget-me-nots can display various shades within the blue family. Some species and cultivars have very pale, almost white hued blue flowers. Others are more vivid and intense like the aptly named ‘Victoria Blue’ cultivar.
The vibrancy or lightness of the blue may depend on factors like sunlight exposure soil health and cultivar type. But whatever the shade, blue remains the most prevalent forget-me-not color. It’s the hue most associated with these blooms.
Pink Forget-Me-Nots Add a Soft Touch
In addition to blue, forget-me-nots naturally occur in pale pink and white varieties. The pink forget-me-nots have a delicate, romantic feeling. They lend a soft, feminine touch to floral designs. These rosy blooms look beautiful paired with other spring flowers in shades of white, yellow, and purple.
Like the blue variety, pink forget-me-nots may range in intensity. Some flowers appear with a hint of pink blush on white petals. Others showcase bolder pink petal hues that still remain on the softer side. A planting that mixes blue and pink forget-me-nots can be an appealing spring display.
White Forget-Me-Nots Provide Subtle Contrast
On the opposite end of the color spectrum, white forget-me-nots offer understated elegance. These tiny blooms with their yellow centers allow the fresh green leaves to take center stage. All white forget-me-not plantings have an appealing cottage garden charm.
White forget-me-nots nicely complement vibrant spring bulbs like tulips or daffodils. Their paleness contrasts well with the bold colors of other flowers. They make quiet yet beautiful additions to rock gardens, garden borders, and containers.
How to Grow Multi-Colored Forget-Me-Nots
Want to enjoy a mix of forget-me-not colors in your garden? You can purchase seeds for blue, pink, and white varieties separately. Or you can buy mixed seed packs.
Sow seeds in prepared soil in late summer or fall. This will produce flowers the following spring. You can also start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before your last frost date. Then transplant seedlings outdoors after hardening them off.
Place plants in partial or dappled sunlight. Water when soil is dry to the touch. Add mulch around plants to retain moisture. With proper care, your forget-me-nots will reward you with their cheery spring display year after year.
The Significance of Blue Forget-Me-Nots
Blue forget-me-nots are so ubiquitous that the color blue has become an inextricable part of their meaning and symbolism. Since medieval times, these blossoms have represented faithfulness, enduring love, and cherished memories.
The blue color specifically symbolizes trust, sincerity, and eternal bonds. It’s the reason forget-me-nots are traditional wedding bouquet flowers. Their true blue color represents fidelity and lasting commitment between spouses.
Beyond weddings, people gift these blooms to close friends and loved ones as a symbol of their unwavering connection. The signature color has cemented this little flower’s association with unwavering love.
Forget-Me-Nots Inspired Art and Literature
The blue forget-me-not has captured people’s imaginations for centuries. Their delicate beauty and poignant symbolism has inspired countless artists, poets, and writers.
In 15th century Germany, a legend arose about a knight picking these blooms for his lady love before drowning. He threw them to her and implored her to “forget me not.” Writers and painters memorialized this tale and the iconic blue flowers.
Claude Monet, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Franz Schubert and more creatives featured forget-me-nots in their works. The instantly recognizable blue blossoms represented longing, memory, and romance within these artistic expressions.
State Flowers Spotlight Blue Forget-Me-Nots
The states of Alaska and Massachusetts hold the forget-me-not as their official state flower. In both cases, they specifically selected the blue forget-me-not variety as their emblem.
Alaska adopted the forget-me-not in 1949. The small but hardy flower symbolized the spirit of early pioneers. Massachusetts chose it in 1918 based on its meaning, beauty, and connection to local flora.
For both states, the iconic sky blue forget-me-not was the obvious choice. Its familiar color represented shared history and identity for citizens.
Forget-Me-Nots Offer Timeless Appeal
From medieval tales to Monet masterpieces, the muted blue forget-me-not has captivated people for ages with its delicate charm. And whether pale or vivid, blue remains the quintessential color most associated with these flowers.
Next time you see a patch of fluttering forget-me-nots, take a moment to appreciate their soft splendor. Let the timeless blue hues transport you and remind you of the simple beauty nature provides each spring.
The cheery light blue flowers have graced gardens, art, literature, royal bouquets, cottages, and more. And they will likely continue spreading their charm and symbolic meaning for centuries to come.
Grow Forget-Me-Not From Seed
Forget-me-not plants are grown easily from seed, as evidenced by the plants ability to reseed and spread. You can introduce this spring bloomer into your garden in the following way. Buy a packet of seed by early summer. To get ready, pick a spot in the garden and rake the soil to make it loose and even. In midsummer, broadcast the seed across the surface. Water lightly afterward and often enough to keep the soil moist. Seedlings will pop up by fall; blooming will occur the following spring.
Overwintering
Forget-me-not is cold-hardy. Unless you want to grow it north of zone 3, you don’t need to do anything to protect it from the winter.
