Swamp forget-me-nots: profile & care

The swamp forget-me-not (Myosotis scorpioides) enchants with its numerous blue flowers that show up all summer. As in the wild, it needs a damp to wet location for this.

Characteristics

• Plant family: Boraginaceae
  
• Botanical name: Myosotis scorpioides, rarely also Myosotis palustris
  
• German name: blue eyebright
  
• Growth: upright, forming cushions
  
• Height: 20 to 40 centimeters
  
• Foliage: hairy, deep green, evergreen
  
• Flower: light blue with a white or yellow center, cup-shaped, in clusters
  
• Flowering period: May to September
  
• Toxicity: slightly to hardly poisonous

Site conditions

As the name suggests, the swamp forget-me-not loves swampy locations in the Partial shade or lie in the sun, with the latter being protected from the blazing midday sun should. Ideal places for the aquatic plant are:

• Bank zone at the edge of the pond
  
• Marsh or bog beds
  
• Edge of streams

Soil condition

As a perennial of water, the blue eyebright needs a moist to wet soil. You can plant it directly in the water up to a water level of five centimeters. At the edge of the pond, this forget-me-not species prefers a humus-rich, sandy-loamy soil.

planting

Swamp forget-me-nots are growing in width. So that each plant has enough space, you should leave a distance of 20 to 30 centimeters between the water perennials. The ideal time to plant is from April to May or in autumn. But it is also possible to plant Myosotis scorpioides in summer. Suitable plant neighbors are, for example:

• Yellow Iris (Swamp Iris, Iris pseudacorus)
  
• Marsh marigold (Caltha palustris)
  
• Common arrowhead (Sagittaria sagittifolia)
  
• Vaginal cottongrass (Eriophorum vaginatum)
  
• Rose primrose (Primula rosea)
  
• Yellow juggler flower (Mimulus luteus)

Need-based care

The blue eyebright is easy to care for. It is important that the soil is always moist.

to water

In the swamp or bog bed you only need to water the aquatic plants when there is no rain and there is a risk that the soil will begin to dry out. If they are at the edge of the pond, the plants need extensive watering when the water level in the pond drops.

Fertilizing & cutting

If the swamp forget-me-not is on the edge of the pond or in swampy soil, you do not need to fertilize it.

The water perennial does not need a regular cut. If uncontrolled spreading is undesirable, you should cut back the plants close to the ground after flowering.

Overwinter

Myosotis scorpioides is hardy to -20 ° C.

Multiply

The aquatic plants spread uncontrollably through self-sowing and rhizome runners. If the water perennial is to be increased in a targeted manner, the rhizome division in spring is the simplest method. Put the new partial plants in the desired location just as deep as they were in the old place.

Tip: In the course of the division, you can also thin out older stocks.

Alternatively, you can propagate the aquatic plant with seeds:

• Cut off completely open flower clusters in summer
  
• let dry
  
• Store in a cool and dark place over the winter
  
• Sow broadly in spring

Tip: It is not necessary to separate the seedlings, as only the strongest will prevail.

Diseases and pests

So far, nothing has been reported about diseases or pest infestation.

frequently asked Questions