Chatham Island Forget-me-not

A rather pretty perennial in the borage family, Myosotidium hortensia is an evergreen, quite long-lived, clump-forming perennial, with a slightly spreading habit, making good ground-cover. The large, fleshy, deeply veined leaves are glossy emerald green. The terminal clusters of forget-me-not-like, sky-blue flowers with paler edges rise above the clump in May and June, and are very attractive to pollinators. Chatham Island Forget-me-not is ideal for a lightly shaded cottage garden with moist soil, and can also be planted at the base of deciduous trees. In colder areas, it can be planted in soil-based, gritty compost in a pot, taken in for the winter. Ideally, mulch with seaweed, but manure or garden compost will do. Keep it in light shade, and sheltered – it dislikes cold, drying winds.

Site: Sheltered, including coastal sites
Soil: Any light, gritty, moist but well-drained, neutral to acid soil
Position: Partial, dappled or light shade
Season of Interest: Late Spring and early Summer
Hardiness: Hardy to -5 to -10ºC
Height: 18” (45cm)  Spread: 20-39” (50cm-1m) in 2-5 years