water forget-me-not
Latin name: Myosotis scorpioides
Family: Boraginaceae
Other common names; Scorpion-grass
Flowering time: June to September
Height: to 12cm
Growing conditions: damp ground
Nectar source for: grey text
Food source for: grey text
Description
Water forget-me-not was once more commonly known as 'Scorpion-grass' because its curled clusters of sky-blue flowers resembled a scorpion's tail. The common name of Water forget-me-not was most likely popularised by its use in Samuel Taylor Coleridge's poem, The Keepsake. He was familiar with a German tale of a knight who was strolling along a river with his lady when he fell in. Just before he stumbled, he had picked some pretty blue flowers; throwing them to his love, he exclaimed 'forget-me-not' as he drowned.
How to identify: Water forget-me-not has sky-blue flowers with bright yellow middles and five petals; they sit at the top of the long, curved stems in a distinctive cluster. Its leaves are narrow and oblong.
How to propagate: grey text
Family: Boraginaceae
Other common names; Scorpion-grass
Flowering time: June to September
Height: to 12cm
Growing conditions: damp ground
Nectar source for: grey text
Food source for: grey text
Description
Water forget-me-not was once more commonly known as 'Scorpion-grass' because its curled clusters of sky-blue flowers resembled a scorpion's tail. The common name of Water forget-me-not was most likely popularised by its use in Samuel Taylor Coleridge's poem, The Keepsake. He was familiar with a German tale of a knight who was strolling along a river with his lady when he fell in. Just before he stumbled, he had picked some pretty blue flowers; throwing them to his love, he exclaimed 'forget-me-not' as he drowned.
How to identify: Water forget-me-not has sky-blue flowers with bright yellow middles and five petals; they sit at the top of the long, curved stems in a distinctive cluster. Its leaves are narrow and oblong.
How to propagate: grey text