Wood forget-me-not

Look for the pretty, azure-blue flowers of Wood forget-me-not along woodland rides and hedgerows, and in ancient and wet woodlands. Varieties of this flower for the garden are very popular.

Species information

Statistics

Height: up to 50cm

Conservation status

Common.

When to see

April to June

About

A pretty plant with bright blue flowers, Wood forget-me-not can be found along woodland rides and edges, in ancient and wet woodlands, and sometimes in hedgerows and verges as an escaped garden variety. It flowers between April and June.
Although Water forget-me-not may have been the source of many early garden varieties of this popular plant, most are now forms of Wood forget-me-not.

How to identify

Wood forget-me-not has hairy stems and narrow, oval leaves. Clusters of five-petalled, azure-blue flowers, with white or orange centres, appear at the tops of the stems.

Distribution

Widespread, but most common in Southern and Eastern England.

Habitats

Did you know?

Wood forget-me-not is an ideal plant for shady areas in the garden, near trees and hedges, providing good ground cover and early spring flowers.

How people can help

Our gardens are a vital resource for wildlife, providing corridors of green space between open countryside, allowing species to move about. In fact, the UK's gardens provide more space for nature than all the National Nature Reserves put together. So why not try planting native plants and trees to entice birds, mammals and invertebrates into your backyard? To find out more about encouraging wildlife into your garden, visit our Wild About Gardens website: a joint initiative with the RHS, there's plenty of facts and tips to get you started.