This charming spring-flowering perennial produces clouds of rich cobalt-blue blooms with bright yellow centres, creating a soft haze of colour in borders and containers. Myosotis sylvatica ‘Laura Deep Blue’ is a compact, reliable variety, perfect for underplanting spring bulbs or weaving through cottage-style planting schemes. Hardy to around -15°C, it thrives in moist, well-drained soil and flowers generously from mid to late spring.
Myosotis sylvatica ‘Laura Deep Blue’, commonly known as Forget-Me-Not, is celebrated for its intense blue colour and pollinator-friendly blooms. Often grown as a biennial in UK gardens, it self-seeds gently, creating natural drifts of colour year after year without becoming invasive. Its delicate flowers may look dainty, but this is a surprisingly tough and dependable plant.
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Short-Lived Perennial (Often Grown as a Biennial)
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Clump-forming, Compact, Spring-Flowering
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Flowers: April – June
Foliage: March – July
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Scientific Name
Myosotis sylvatica (‘mouse’s ear from the forest’, referring to the softly hairy leaves)
Common Name
Forget-Me-Not, Wood Forget-Me-Not
Origin
Native to woodland and meadow areas across Europe, particularly central and southern regions
Pruning Tips
Deadhead spent flowers if you wish to limit self-seeding. Alternatively, allow some blooms to go to seed for naturalised drifts the following year. Cut back foliage after flowering once it begins to decline.
Wildlife Value
An excellent early nectar source for bees and hoverflies in spring.
Positioning
Full sun or partial shade. Ideal for edging borders, underplanting shrubs, or weaving through spring bulbs such as tulips and daffodils.
Water
Keep soil consistently moist, especially during dry spells in spring. Avoid waterlogged conditions.
Soil
Prefers fertile, humus-rich, well-drained soil but is adaptable to most garden soils.
Food
A light application of balanced fertiliser in early spring will support flowering. Avoid excessive feeding, which can encourage leafy growth over blooms.
Pet-safe
Generally considered non-toxic to pets, though ingestion of large amounts may cause mild stomach upset.
Sprouts Top Tips
For a natural cottage-garden look, plant in groups and allow a few plants to self-seed – you’ll be rewarded with soft blue drifts appearing each spring in just the right places.
