How Long Does It Take to Grow Myosotis Alpestris?

The Circle of Life

• Tiny alpine forget-me-not seeds are sown or distributed in mid to late summer and germinate in two to four weeks under good conditions. The seedlings continue development until frost induces dormancy. In the early spring, growth resumes and clusters of flower buds form. The blue, five-petaled flowers are fused at the base to form tubes, facilitating pollination by bees and sometimes flies or butterflies. After pollination, the petals fall away and the ovaries ripen into nut-like, seedpods with four cells apiece. These ripen in summer and eventually split to disperse seeds.

Avoid Root Rot

• Alpine plants have adapted over time to cope with sometimes harsh mountain conditions. Alpine forget-me-not's low-growing habit makes it impervious to damage from high winds. It is not fussy about soil type, but to optimize its lifespan, provide good drainage, which is critical to prevent root rot. In gardens with heavy clay soil, amend generously with either grit or very fine gravel. Water seedlings and young plants until they are established and provide supplemental water during dry spells. After a few years, clumps will be large enough to divide in the spring.

Rocking Containers

• Its small stature -- 4 to 6 inches tall and wide -- and alpine origins make alpine forget-me-not perfect for rock gardens. In mixed borders, the bright blue flowers stand out when the little plants are used en masse for edging. Because the flowers attract butterflies, the plants also work in dedicated butterfly gardens. Alpine forget-me-nots are excellent container subjects, either on their own or as part of mixed groupings in large alpine troughs or conventional containers. Use them to underplant late spring bulbs, like tulips (Tulipa spp.), generally hardy in USDA zones 3 through 8, or early summer flowers.

Life Is Short

• Alpine forget-me-not is considered a short-lived perennial, living more than the two-year span of a biennial, but probably less than five or six years even under the best conditions. However, its self-sowing nature and tendency to increase into large clumps, makes alpine forget-me-not seem much longer lived. Its close relative, common garden forget-me-not, is so vigorous that it has been reported as invasive in some locations. This is not true of alpine forget-me-not. The plants are also relatively unaffected by deer browsing.