Cynoglossum amabile aka Chinese Forget Me Not

Cynoglossum amabile has two common names: Chinese forget-me-not and hound’s tongue. It is part of the borage family, Boraginaceae. It grows wild in central Nepal, central China, and Thailand. There, it grows in meadows, woods, thickets, and along riverbanks. Sources differ on how long the plant lives. Some call it an annual, which lives for one year. Others call it a biennial, which lives for two years. Some call it a perennial, which lives for more years. Gardeners often grow it as an annual for cool weather.

Plants form round clumps with one or more upright stems. Garden height is about 1–2 feet [0.3–0.61 metres]. Spread is often 0.7–1 foot [0.2–0.3 metres]. The RHS gives a wider spread of up to 1.6 feet [0.5 metres]. Fine hairs cover the stems and grey-green leaves. Each leaf has one blade with smooth edges. Leaves grow in turn along the stems, not in pairs. Leaves near the base have stalks. They reach 0.67 feet [0.2 metres] long. Smaller leaves sit on the stems with no stalks.

Small, pale blue flowers grow at the stem tips. They form clusters called cymes. The blooms look much like those of true forget-me-nots. Each flower is about 0.02 feet [0.006 metres] across. Plants can bloom in their first year from seed. With the right conditions, blooms last from late spring into autumn. Missouri Botanical Garden gives a June through September bloom season. Long, hot, humid summers can cut this season short. Insects pollinate the flowers, which draw them to garden beds. Each seedpod holds five large seeds with surfaces that cling. Animals and birds carry these seeds to new places.

Grow this plant in sun and moist soil that drains well. Light shade in the afternoon helps where summers are hot. It accepts sandy or loamy soils across a broad pH range. Poor soil suits it, but heavy, untreated clay does not. It copes with some drought. In gardens, a moderate amount of moisture suits its growth. Sources list USDA zones 6–9 and UK hardiness H5. Sow outside in spring, or start seeds under cover earlier. You can also sow in fall in USDA zones 6–9. Plants suit borders, rock gardens, pots, and cut-flower beds.

Plants can grow from seeds they shed and become weedy. This plant has escaped gardens and taken hold elsewhere. Serious pest problems are rare, but powdery mildew may occur. Leave space for air to flow, and avoid too much water. Useful Tropical Plants reports no known edible uses. It notes use in folk medicine for coughs and bleeding wounds. ASPCA lists this plant as toxic to horses. Large or repeated intake can cause liver disease.