in

How to Grow Cynoglossum — Chinese Forget-Me-Not

Chinese forget-me-not, Cynoglossum amabile

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.

Cynoglossum
Cynoglossum amabile, Chinese Forget-me-not

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.
Chinese-forget-me-not, Cynoglossum
Chinese-forget-me-not, Cynoglossum

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

False heather flower - Latin name - Cuphea hyssopifolia

How to Grow Cuphea — Mexican Heather

Ddiascia

How to Grow Diascia — Twinspur