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Alpine Forget-Me-Not Wikimedia Commons
Boraginaceae

Alpine Forget-Me-Not

Myosotis alpestris

True love and remembrance.

Family
Boraginaceae
Genus
Myosotis
Native to
Europe, Asia
Bloom season
Spring, Summer
Type
perennial
Height
4-8 inches
Sunlight
partial shade to full sun
Soil
moist, well-drained
Water
moderate
Hardiness
3-8
Lifespan
short-lived perennial

Did you know

  • The alpine forget-me-not is the state flower of Alaska, adopted in 1949.
  • According to German legend, a knight picking these flowers for his lady fell into a river and cried 'Vergiss mein nicht!' (Forget me not!) as he was swept away.
  • The genus name Myosotis means 'mouse ear' in Greek, referring to the shape of the small fuzzy leaves.
  • Alpine forget-me-nots can grow at elevations up to 12,000 feet in mountainous regions.
  • The flowers often start pink in bud and change to blue as they open, due to changes in cell pH.

Color meanings

0

remembrance

1

true love

2

fidelity

3

hope

Uses

  • ornamental
  • rock gardens
  • ground cover
  • cottage gardens