Chatham Island Forget-me-not Plant Care

Chatham Island Forget-me-not (Myosotidium hortensia) belongs to the Boraginaceae family within the Myosotidium genus. Chatham Island Forget-me-not is native to the Chatham Islands, New Zealand. Chatham Island Forget-me-not is also known as Giant Forget-me-not.

Chatham Island Forget-me-not displays a low rosette, clumping growth habit, reaching up to 1 ft tall with a spread of approximately 1 ft. Chatham Island Forget-me-not produces small, blue forget-me-not-like flowers in clusters.

Leaf size: approximately 4 inches.

Water a young or newly planted Chatham Island Forget-me-not every 7–14 days, soaking the whole root zone, until it is established — usually one to two growing seasons. Established shrubs mainly need water during long dry spells. In a container, water whenever the top few centimetres of soil are dry.

Chatham Island Forget-me-not thrives in partial shade to full sun.

Myosotidium hortensia tolerates temperatures of 50–75°F. Chatham Island Forget-me-not prefers humidity levels of 40–70%.

Well-draining, sandy soil with added organic matter for moisture retention. Good drainage is essential for Chatham Island Forget-me-not to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.

Feed Chatham Island Forget-me-not every 6 months during the growing season with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer at the rate on the label. Established shrubs in good soil often need little extra feeding, so let weak growth or pale foliage guide you.

Stop feeding by late summer so new growth can harden before winter.

The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.

Choose a spot with partial shade to full sun and well-draining, sandy soil with added organic matter for moisture retention. Avoid low spots where water collects after rain.

Chatham Island Forget-me-not is suited to USDA Zone 12a.

Plant container-grown or balled-and-burlapped shrubs in spring or early autumn, setting the root flare at soil level, and water well after planting.

Chatham Island Forget-me-not can spread to about 1 ft (0.3 m) and reach about 1 ft (0 m) tall. Space plants about 1 ft (0.3 m) apart so mature crowns don't crowd each other, and plant at least half that distance from buildings, fences and paths.

Planning a row or hedge? Try the plant spacing calculator.

Prune Chatham Island Forget-me-not while it is dormant in late winter: first remove dead, damaged and crossing branches, then thin lightly for shape.

If it flowers in spring, prune right after flowering instead so you don't remove next year's buds. Never take off more than about a quarter of the shrub in one year.

Chatham Island Forget-me-not is frost-tender (hardy to USDA zone 12). In colder areas grow it in a container and move it to a bright, frost-free place before the first frost.

Chatham Island Forget-me-not can be propagated through seeds, division of offsets.

See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.

Chatham Island Forget-me-not is susceptible to aphids, spider mites. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.

Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.

Chatham Island Forget-me-not grows outdoors in USDA Zone 12a. It survives winters down to planting zone 12a. Chatham Island Forget-me-not is native to the Chatham Islands, New Zealand. In cooler regions, grow Chatham Island Forget-me-not as a houseplant or bring it indoors before the first frost.