Stephen Albert
Chinese forget-me-not, botanical name Cynoglossum, bears pendents of sky-blue, sometimes white, or pale pink flowers in late summer. Chinese-forget-me-not is a slow-growing upright and somewhat bushy annual or biennial.
Cynoglossums include about 55 species of annuals, biennials, and short-lived perennials. The sprays of small tubular to funnel-shaped flowers resemble forget-me-nots.Cynoglossums often have hairy or bristly leaves and stems.
Place Cynoglossum midway in the flower bed or border.
Get to know Cynoglossum
- Plant type: Annual
- Growing Zones and range: Zones 2 to 9
- Hardiness: Tender
- Height and width: 18 to 30 inches (45-76cm) tall; 10 to 20 inches (25-50cm) wide
- Foliage: Narrowly lance-shaped to oblong or ovate leaves; foliage is soft, hairy and grayish greem
- Flowers: Short, tubular corolla and 5 widely spreading lobes in a star shape in one-sided terminal cymes
- Flower colors: Blue, pink, or white
- Bloom time: Late spring or early summer
- Uses: Add to flower borders
- Common name: Chinese Forget-Me-Not
- Botanical name: Cynoglossum species
- Family: Boraginaceae
- Origin: Rocky slopes in temperate regions and tropical uplands
Where to plant Cynoglossum
- Grow Cynoglossum in full or light shade.
- Plant in average to rich well-drained soil.
Cynoglossum uses
- Use Cynoglossum as a cool accent among early-blooming warm-colored annuals such as orange Dimorphotheca and pink or rose Dianthus.
When to plant Cynoglossum
- Set outdoors in early spring in Zones 2-7; plant in fall in Zones 8-9.
- Start seed indoors 4 to 6 weeks before the last frost in spring; set transplants in the garden after the last frost.
Planting and spacing Cynoglossum
- Space Cynoglossum 10 to 20 inches (25-50cm) apart.
- Sow seed 1/8 inch deep in potting mix in six-packs; sow seed outdoors in evenly prepared soil.
How to water and feed Cynoglossum
- Keep the soil evenly moist.
- Do not fertilize Cynoglossum.
Cynoglossum care
- Trim away spent blooms to promote more blooms.
- Pull plants out of the garden when they finish blooming at the end of summer.
- The plant will reseed freely if left in the garden after bloom time. Volunteer seedlings can become a nuisance.
Cynoglossum pests and diseases
- Cynoglossum is prone to mildew, especially if not well watered.
Cynoglossum propagation
- Seeds germinate in 7 to 14 days at 68°F (20°C).
Cynoglossum varieties to grow
- Cynoglossum amabile: Grows 18 to 24 inches (45-61cm) tall; loose sprays of blue, pink, or white flowers; gray-green, lance-shaped leaves; cultivars include ‘Firmament’ is a stocky variety that is less prone to flopping.
- C. nervosum: Grows to 36 inches (91cm) tall; intense blue flowers in open sprays; clump-forming perennial.
- C. officinale: Biennial grows to 18 inches tall and 36 inches wide; sprays of dark
