Myasotis Palustris (Water Forget-Me-Not)
Myasotis are one of the most versatile, frost hardy marginal plants used in water gardening. They will happily grow in still and running water so are very adaptable to living in bogs, and the edge of rivers, streams, ponds and pretty much anywhere that is permanently wet. Growing to a water depth of 6 cm, these dense creeping mats with their abundance of summer flowers in fact, look in place anywhere from natural clay bottomed ponds to man-made fibreglass and lined ponds, every water garden should house this native species or one of its colourful cultivars. For a very special effect, why not plant the blue Myasotis Palustris and the white Myasotis Palustris Alba with Ranunculus Flammula, a very striking combination that became a feature in all of our Hampton Court Gold Award winning show gardens.
All the described cultivars listed below, are not only pleasing to the eye, but also play an important role in the water garden. Their spreading semi-evergreen habit means they are excellent for hiding pumps and filters or covering exposed areas of excess pond liner. They also provide an excellent hiding place for all types of wildlife and provide a safe entrance and exit for amphibians and birds and mammals visiting for a drink.
This is the native species naturalised throughout Europe. It produces a spread of airy blue flowers and is a very popular plant for wildlife gardens growing to a height of 45 cm.
A very pretty cultivar with cream and green variegated leaves growing to a dense height of 30-45 cm.
This cultivar is a more compact version of the species with slightly larger and rounder leaves. It grows to a height of 30 cm and produces more blue flowers than the species Myasotis Scirpioides.
Probably my favourite cultivar, it has smaller more narrow green leaves than the blue cultivars and stays nice and compact, producing masses of pure white flowers growing to a height of 30 cm.
This is the smallest of the cultivars. As the name suggests, it produces a low carpet of coral pink flowers, and is very compact growing to a height of 10-20 cm therefore, a very popular cultivar for those that own small garden ponds and streams, sunken sinks and other small water features.