Skill Level: Beginner (germination)
Myosotidium hortensia—the famed Chatham Island Forget‑me‑not—is sometimes described as a botanical “holy grail”. Native to the remote Chatham Islands of New Zealand, it forms bold rosettes of glossy, upright, semi-cupped shaped and pleated leaves that serve as a perfect foil for clusters of cobalt‑blue flowers with white margins late spring. Mature plants reach 18–24 in., creating a low, architectural mound that looks almost sculpted.
In the garden, Myosotidium prefers part shade, cool maritime air, and moist, humus‑rich, well‑drained soils. It dislikes heat and drying winds but thrives in mild coastal or woodland settings. Hardiness is roughly USDA Zone 8, with protection from hard freezes.
Our Seed Germination Experience
A 2012 study on desiccation tolerance demonstrated that the seeds are fully desiccation‑tolerant—they can be dried to standard storage moisture without losing viability—and that the primary barrier to germination is the thick, oxygen‑restricting seed coat, not temperature. If you are interested: https://www.agronomysociety.org.nz/uploads/94803/files/SP12_12._CI_Forget-me-not_desiccation_tolerance.pdf
We received the seed still enclosed in its pods. Pods were soaked for 24 hours to soften the coat before being removed, and the seeds thoroughly cleaned before sowing. We found seeds were prone to rot, but those that did germinate, they did so at room temperature within 30 days of sowing; no cold stratification required despite what some sites suggest. This aligns with the study’s finding that temperature cycling does not break dormancy and that germination proceeds once the seed coat allows oxygen entry.
Once germinated, they were placed under grow lights at cooler temperatures to grow on. With good care, we expect our seedlings to reach flowering size in 3–4 years, matching reports from growers in mild maritime climates.
Photo: artandscienceofhorticulture.weebly.com
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