True Forget-me-not

Myosotis scorpioides

Found in wet meadows, streambanks. FloraQuest, phone app (app page) What its natural habitat tells you

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Not native

Not native to Alabama. How scores work Is it native here?

Profile 82%

Height: 6 inches–1 foot
Spread: 9 inches–1 foot
Light: Full sun, Partial shade
Soil moisture: Moist to standing water

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Myosotis scorpioides — flower photograph — (c) Patrick Hacker, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC BY 4.0 · Original photograph

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Common Rockcap Fern
Polypodium virginianum
Sun: Deep shade. Soil: Somewhat dry to moist. Flowers: Not applicable.
Similar growth form, height, spread
Walking Fern
Asplenium rhizophyllum
Sun: Partial shade. Soil: Usually moist. Flowers: Not applicable.
Similar growth form, height, evergreen or deciduous

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At a glance

Life cycle: Perennial
Leaves: Evergreen
Bloom: May to August
Fruiting season: Spring to summer

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Recorded in 2 Alabama counties.

Natural habitats

Places it grows wild. Not a planting requirement. Each habitat page lists the plants and wildlife also found there.

1 of 2

Wet meadows

Open, wet, grassy or sedgy ground that is not a bog.

Streams, rivers and their banks

Flowing water and its banks, bars and rocky shoals.

All habitats

Ecological relationships

Who uses this plant?

What these records mean

2CaterpillarsGenus host records with ranges including AL

Genus host records with ranges including AL · Myosotis

Vanessa virginiensisAmerican Lady, American Painted Lady
Xestia dolosaGreater Black-Letter Dart, Greater Spotted Cutworm

Shropshire & Tallamy 2025, Lepidoptera of North America north of Mexico, ZooKeys 1261 (ODbL)

—BeesSoutheastern regional records

—Specialist beesPollen specialists

2BirdsRecorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim

Recorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim · Myosotis

Ammospiza leconteiiLeConte's Sparrow
Leucosticte atrataBlack Rosy-Finch

Hurlbert, Olsen, Sawyer & Winner 2021, Avian Diet Database, Scientific Data 8: 260 (CC0)

Direct food only: birds recorded eating this genus across North America. Caterpillars on host plants also feed nesting birds. NC Native Plant Society: butterfly gardening

Growing and identification

Plant details

Family: Boraginaceae
Hardiness: Zones 5a–9b
Soil pH: Acidic to alkaline
Flower color: Blue or white
Growth rate: Moderate
Growth habit: Spreads by rhizomes
Foliage color: Green
Fruit begins: Spring
Fruit ends: Summer

Safety has not been reviewed for this plant; check toxicity and thorns before planting.

Growing sources and scope

Bloom · “May to August” · FloraQuest: Carolinas, Georgia (Southeastern Flora Team), phone app (app page) (ranked first; USDA PLANTS differs) · Carolinas and Georgia
Flower color · “Blue or white” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox (ranked first; USDA PLANTS differs)
Foliage color · “Green” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Fruit begins · “Spring” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Fruit ends · “Summer” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Growth habit · “Spreads by rhizomes” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Growth rate · “Moderate” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Hardiness · “Zones 5a–9b” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Height · “6 inches–1 foot” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox (ranked first; USDA PLANTS, Minnesota Wildflowers differ)
Leaves · “Evergreen” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Life cycle · “Perennial” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Light · “Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day); Partial shade (direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Soil · “Frequent standing water; Moist; Occasionally wet” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Soil pH · “Acidic to alkaline” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Spread · “9 inches–1 foot” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox

Also known as

True Forget Me Not

Conservation status

Alabama rank	SNA
Global rank	G5
AL status	Not verified
Federal status	Not verified

Conservation source Global and federal source