Forget-me-Not, Myosotis scorpioides L., Native Minnesota Wildflower plant, Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden

	Plants of the Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden
	Common Name	Scientific Name	Plant Family	Garden Location	Prime Season
	True Forget-me-not	Myosotis scorpioides L.	Borage (Boraginaceae)	Woodland - Bog	Late Spring to Autumn
Other names and notes	Forget-me-nots are plants of wet places. In Eloise Butler they are found in abundance along Lady's Slipper Lane in the bog. The downy stems can be erect but here are usually sprawling without another plant to rest on. Small blue flowers up to 3/8 inch wide, that have a yellow eye and with petals that open out flat at the top of the flower tube, the tube being much longer than the petals. The flowers grow on short branched clusters (cymes). Leaves are alternate and stalkless. Look close to the ground to find them.


Below left: The stalkless leaves and hairy sprawling stems.

Notes: There are a number plants with this common name. Three are found in the wild in Minnesota Myosotis scorpioides L. is widely distributed in the United States. In Minnesota it has been found in eight counties, mostly in the eastern half of the State. It is not native to the state but to Europe and has become naturalized. It is listed as an invasive weed by some states, Wisconsin for example. Eloise Butler introduced the plant to the Garden and it has survived. She also introduced, in 1909, the species native to Minnesota, M. Laxa Lehm. - the Bay (or Brook) Forget-me-not. It has not survived. The third species in Minnesota is M. arvensis, which is native to Eurasia.

Eloise Butler wrote this about the plant: "Happy is he who finds in brooks winding through meadows the tiny blossoms that vie with the violet and the rose in popular favor - the forget-me-not. It is not easy to Forget these pale blue flowers with yellow eyes - an unequalled harmony of color. The Brook Forget-me-not [referring here to M. laxa], after three unsuccessful attempts has been firmly established in the wild garden, where it blooms the summer long. The parent stock in Needham, Massachusetts, grew waist high in prodigal profusion. “Oh!” said one admirer 'these flowers are just like those we see on hats!' " Published August 27, 1911, Minneapolis Sunday Tribune.

Return to -- Site Plan/Archive --or-- List of Common Plant Names -- or -- List of Scientific Names -- or --Home Page

References: Plant characteristics are generally from sources 15, 16, 30, 31, 33, W2 & W3. Distribution principally from W2 and also 31, 34 and W1. Planting history generally from 1, 4 & 4a. Other sources by specific reference. See Reference List for details.

070711