Water Forget-me-not

Description

Water forget-me-not (Myosotis scorpioides) is a British native marginal and aquatic wildflower naturally found in bog gardens, pond edges, streams, damp habitats, and along rivers. Native to Europe and Asia, it thrives in wet habitats and is well adapted to life at the water’s edge.

Flowering in late spring and summer, it produces masses of sky-blue flowers and is particularly valuable for wildlife, providing cover and shelter for newts and other amphibians.

Water forget-me-not is also commonly known as ‘scorpion-grass’, which originates from the curved flower stems, which resemble a scorpion’s tail. This plant provides a valuable source of nectar and pollen for bees, along with many other pollinating insects, helping to support biodiversity in wetland and garden habitats.

How to Identify

Water forget-me-not is a low-growing, spreading perennial with soft green leaves and delicate five-petalled flowers. The blooms are typically bright sky blue with a yellow eye and are held on gently arching stems above the foliage.

In very wet conditions, plants may form floating rafts, allowing them to colonise shallow water margins naturally.

How to Grow

This plant prefers waterlogged or wet soils and performs best in shallow water or marshy ground. It has a planting depth of 0-4 inches of water, making it ideal for pond margins, shallow shelves, and bog gardens.
Although it favours wet ground, Myosotis scorpioides can tolerate periods of submersion and spreads readily once established. It is low maintenance, wildlife-friendly, and particularly well suited to naturalistic pond and wetland planting schemes.