Myosotis scorpioides aka Water Forget Me Not

Myosotis scorpioides is known as water or marsh forget-me-not. This perennial belongs to the borage family, Boraginaceae. Its native range runs from Europe to Siberia and the western Himalaya. It is native to Britain and Ireland. It grows in damp meadows and beside streams and ponds. Plants have escaped gardens and spread through parts of North America.

This low plant forms clumps and spreads through creeping rhizomes. Garden plants often stand about 0.5–1 foot [0.15–0.3 metres] tall. Taller plants can reach about 1.6 feet [0.5 metres]. Spread can also reach 1.6 feet [0.5 metres]. Green, hairy stems stand upright or lean along the ground. The narrow green leaves have smooth edges and a clear central vein. Leaves reach about 0.33 feet [0.1 metres] long. They may stay green through winter, though RHS calls them semi-evergreen.

Small blue flowers grow in branched clusters called scorpioid cymes. These clusters curl like a scorpion's tail before opening. Each flower has five lobes around a small central eye. The eye may be yellow, white, or pink. Bloom dates vary among sources and growing sites. Chicago records flowers from May through August. NC State places bloom from midsummer into early fall. Each flower gives rise to four small brown nutlets. Nectar draws small butterflies and dance flies to the blooms.

Grow this plant in sun or partial shade. Keep the soil moist to wet throughout growth. It accepts clay, loam, and sand, including poor soils. Acid, neutral, and alkaline soils all suit it. It also grows in shallow standing water. RHS gives a water depth limit of about 0.33 feet [0.1 metres]. RHS rates its cold hardiness H6. US sources list zones 3–8 and 5–9. Spring division or seed can produce new plants. Cut plants back once flowering ends.

Use it beside ponds, along streams, or in bog gardens. It can form flowering ground cover near water. Containers can help limit its spread in water gardens. Plants also spread by seed and may form dense patches. Some Midwestern states list it as a noxious weed. Care needs are low, and serious pest trouble is rare. Mildew and rust can still affect it. Plants For A Future lists no edible uses or known hazards. It records use for bronchitis and whooping cough, without evidence here of safety or effectiveness.