Do you know that the Forget-me-not plants, that are found in the North America are mostly from Europe. Know more about these plants and flowers and the myths or legends about, how they acquired so catchy a name.

According to a legend 'Forget-me-not' were the last words of a knight to his lady-love, after he fell in and sunk to the bottom of a river because of the weight of the armor he wore. Most of the Forget-me-nots are characterized by their flowers, with 5 blue and flat petals. Exceptions being the Myosotis alba and Myosotis aurea which has white and yellow flowers, respectively. These plants are found in the mountains, woods and in the humid fields at an altitude of 700 to 2,800 meters. These flowers which are fragrant in the evenings and the nights are also called Asian, Wood and Alpine Forget-me-not. This flower is the official flower on the National Grandparents day.

These plants are grouped under the genus Myosotis, which belongs to the family Boraginaceae. Many of these plants are natives of New Zealand and are also found in Asia, Australia, the North America and Africa. Because of this flower reminds people of love and tragic ends, women often wear it to express their feelings to partners. People also wear it at the weddings.

Alaska State Flower

In 1949, the State of Alaska declared the Mayosotis Alpestris, a Forget-me-not, found in the Alpine areas of the United States, as the official state flower of the State of Alaska. It was a flower, with blue petals and yellowish or pink center.

• M. alpestris alpestris
• M. alpestris asiatica
• M. alpestis Osmypo
• M. alpestris (Gold and sapphires)
• M. alpestris (Nana)
• M. alpestris (Ruth Fischer)
• M. appestris (Subspecies Suaveolens)
• M. arvensis
• M. arvensis arvensis
• M. asiatica
• M. aspera
• M. atlantica
• M. australis
• M. azorica
• M. bill baker
• M. blue ball
• M. sylvatica (Blue Bird)
• M. bouquet
• M. cametoonensis
• M. anescens
• M.capitata
• M. colensoi colensos
• M. alba Forget-me-not

Planting Instructions

If you are thinking of planting this flower in your garden, then you should go through the following information. Before you buy the seeds or seedlings for it, confirm whether it is annual or perennial. The difference between these two is significant. The annual ones last for one year and the perennial variety lasts for three or more years.

• Inquire at the local nurseries about the seedlings of the type of this plant you are interested in.
• You can select your favorite from a group of 50 of its types.
• Planting seedlings of this plant is the easiest way to raise them.
• If you cannot find the seedlings you are looking for, then you have no option but to start with the seeds, which you can buy at the local nurseries.
• Plant the seeds in the polythene bags containing soil mixed with compost.
• For early blooms, place the bags inside the house or a garden shed for 8 to 10 weeks and water the seeds regularly, to keep the soil moist.
• At the beginning of spring, plant the seedlings in your garden, where they will be shielded from the direct sunlight.
• The alternative is to prepare the ground in the early spring and plant the seeds in the bare ground, when there are still chances of having the light frost.
• You can add the compost to the soil at the time of preparing the ground for the seeds.
• Though these plants can survive, even when they grow in a crowded bunch, it is a good idea to plant them 3 to 4 inches apart.
• The dry soil can have adverse effect on the growth of the seeds and seedlings of this plant.
• Water the seeds regularly and maintain the ground moist and whenever it is needed, use compost to enhance their growth.
• These may blossom in the early, the middle or in the late spring. Whenever it happens you can try to lengthen the bloom time by regularly trimming the spent blooms. If you are really interested in the gardening, flower gardens and in the rock gardens, then you will find that a clutch of these at your favorite spot, will be a treat to the eyes. These plants don't attract diseases or insects, but if it does, then you can use pesticides and/or fungicides to deal with the problem.

The National Forget-me-not day is celebrated on the 10^th of November. One way of celebrating this day is to send the flowers to friends and family members, who haven't been in your contact for a long time. The legend associated with these flowers really makes it an unforgettable one. Roses speak about love, but a Forget-me-not symbolizes more than that.