Forget Me Not 'Chinese Firmament Blue'

Chinese firmament blue is a hardy forget me not variety that produces masses of dainty blue flowers held above compact, elongated, greyish-green foliage. Attracts insects pollinators such as bees to the garden. Can be used in flower arrangements. Annual. 10-12 weeks to flowering. Approx 155 seeds per packet.
Forget Me Not 'Chinese Firmament Blue'
Forget Me Not 'Chinese Firmament Blue'
Price Per Packet: $ 2.50
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Growing Advice

Scientific Name: Cynoglossum amabile

Common Names: Forget Me Not 'Chinese Firmament Blue', Chinese Forget-Me-Not, Chinese Hounds Tongue

Family: Boraginaceae (Borage)

Origin

Chinese firmament blue forget me not is native to parts of Asia.

Plant Uses

Chinese firmament blue forget me not grows to about 40cm tall so it should be positioned towards the front or middle of rockeries or mixed cottage garden beds.  The masses of tiny blue flowers help to attract bees and other beneficial insect pollinators to the garden.  The flowering branches are suitable for filling out cut flower arrangements.  Forget me not can be grown in pots and containers.  This plant contains carcinogenic pyrrolizidine alkaloids and should not be eaten or kept near children or pets that could potentially nibble on it.

Growing Tips

Forget me not is easy to grow and does well in both full sun and part shade.  It requires a fertile, well-drained soil rich in organic matter to grow and flower best.  Add plenty of compost, well-rotted animal manure or worm castings prior to planting to ensure optimal plant health.  If you soil is heavy with clay you may have better success growing forget me not in raised garden beds or in containers where good drainage can be ensured.  Remove spent flowering branches to encourage ongoing flowering. This plant produces seeds that are covered in burrs, they tend to stick to gardening gloves and clothing so take care when deadheading spent flowers.  Forget me not will self-sow when grown under ideal conditions.  Mulch around plants well to keep their root systems cool, retain soil moisture and reduce competition from weeds.  Water regularly, do not allow the soil to fully dry out or growth will be stunted. 

When To Sow

Cold: October to March.
Temperate: September to April.
Subtropics: August to November or March to May.
Tropics: April to September.

How To Sow

Sow several forget me not seeds 3mm deep directly where they are to grow or start them in punnets.  Thin to the healthiest seedlings or divide into individual small pots as soon as the seedlings are large enough to handle safely.  When planting out forget me not seedlings space them 25cm apart.

Germination Time

Germination of forget me not seeds can be slow and erratic taking from 14 to 28 days.

Time To Flowering

10 to 12 weeks.