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Myosotis sylvatica

Garden Forget-me-not · Wood Forget-me-not · Woodland Forget-me-not

Family BoraginaceaeGenus Myosotis

Sky-blue five-petalled flowers with small yellow eyes on hairy stalks, with one pink flower still unopened among them.
FlowerAndré Karwath aka AkaCC BY-SA 2.5

About the plant

What it is and where it grows — not part of any germination protocol.

The plant

Habit
Annual, Ground Cover, Herbaceous Perennial, WildflowerExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Habit
biennial or perennialPlants of the World Online
Height
0.5-1 ft15-30 cmExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Spread
6-10 in15-25 cmExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Flower
Blue, Pink, WhiteExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Blooms
SpringExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Native range
Albania, Austria, Baltic States, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria and elsewhereGBIF Backbone Taxonomy
Hardiness zones
3-8Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Growing conditions

Sun
Full sun; Partial ShadeExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil
Clay, High Organic Matter, Loam (Silt)Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Moisture
Good Drainage, Moist, Occasionally WetExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.

Sources: Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — NC State Extension; Plants of the World Online — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — Global Biodiversity Information Facility.

Worth knowing

  • This is the forget-me-not of spring bedding, grown across the temperate world alongside other spring flowers, especially daffodils, tulips, wallflowers and primulas. Wikipedia: Myosotis sylvatica

This source reports 4 treatments. All are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Low Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 8, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Cold moist stratification

    Temperature: 40°F 4°C

Germination happens during step 1, in 28 days.

92% germination in 2–28 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Myosotis p. 180Public domain
Show the original text
Myosotis (Boraginaceae). M. sylvatica germ. 70(90% in 3-5 d) and 40(10-20%)-70(90-80%) using seed DS 6 m at 70. Fresh seed germ. 70(70% in 2 d-4 w) and 40(92% in 2 d-4 w)
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Myosotis p. 180. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 2

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Low Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around October 3, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on October 2, 2026.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 180 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C

about 6 months from start to sowing. Then 5 days to germinate.

90% germination in 3–5 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Myosotis p. 180Public domain
Show the original text
Myosotis (Boraginaceae). M. sylvatica germ. 70(90% in 3-5 d) and 40(10-20%)-70(90-80%) using seed DS 6 m at 70. Fresh seed germ. 70(70% in 2 d-4 w) and 40(92% in 2 d-4 w)
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Myosotis p. 180. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 3

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around June 19, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on June 18, 2026.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 180 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

    10 germinated in this phase.

  3. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

about 9 months from start to step 3. Germination happens during step 3; time not stated, 21 days assumed.

90% germination.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Myosotis p. 180Public domain
Show the original text
Myosotis (Boraginaceae). M. sylvatica germ. 70(90% in 3-5 d) and 40(10-20%)-70(90-80%) using seed DS 6 m at 70. Fresh seed germ. 70(70% in 2 d-4 w) and 40(92% in 2 d-4 w)
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Myosotis p. 180. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 4

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Low Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 8, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 28 days to germinate.

70% germination in 2–28 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Myosotis p. 180Public domain
Show the original text
Myosotis (Boraginaceae). M. sylvatica germ. 70(90% in 3-5 d) and 40(10-20%)-70(90-80%) using seed DS 6 m at 70. Fresh seed germ. 70(70% in 2 d-4 w) and 40(92% in 2 d-4 w)
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Myosotis p. 180. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

How each step is done, in Deno’s words, and what Verified and Derived mean.

Germination trials

Readers’ own records of sowing this species, published after review. Share your trial · All trials

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