Spring Flowering Forget-Me-Nots and Trillium
Look for Early Blooming Naturalized Wildflowers in Woodland Gardens
Feb 10, 2009
Myosotis is commonly called forget-me-nots. Trillium is also called great white, snow trillium or wake robin. These flowers are found during early springtime in the moist areas of shady landscaped gardens or woodland parks.
Identifying Forget-Me-Nots and Trillium
The flowers and structure of each makes them easy to recognize. Forget-me-nots are a low growing plant with many petite light blue five-petal flowers that have yellow centers.
Each Trillium flower is pure white, made up of three large petals that fade to a pinkish color as it ages or after pollination. This mounding plant has single stems and is able to grow two feet tall. There are three whorled leaves, 3 “ – 6 “ long, on each stem.
Growing Forget-Me-Nots
Myosotis is a perennial plant hardy in zones 3 – 8. Forget-me-nots grow best in moist soil in light shade. This plant will benefit from a winter protection of mulch in northern climates. Forget-me-nots do suffer from powdery mildew and red spider mites.
These tiny flowering plants add bright color to spring bulb plantings or perennial borders. A train or rock garden, where miniaturized plants are used, is a good setting for this small plant. Planted in mass, forget-me-nots will create a carpet under deciduous trees.
Examples of Myosotis cultivars include:
- M. ‘Blue Ball’ has an indigo blue flower.
- M. ‘Victoria Rose’ has pink very early blooming flowers.
Growing Trillium in a Garden
Trillium grandifloium is a native perennial, hardy in zones 4 – 9. The plant grows best in a woodland setting where the soil is moist but well draining. Organic matter such as leaf compost or peat moss should be added to garden beds. Gardeners can expect to give additional water during drought because consistent moisture is necessary.
Trillium tolerates all shade levels except for under low-branched evergreens. They do not compete well with aggressive plants. Propagation of seeds is slow; however plants are long lived.
In nature preserves or wildflower parks, damage is done to the environment in which Trillium grows where clear cutting trees is allowed. Clear cutting decreases the shade needed for Trillium to thrive. Another threat is the harvesting by deer that has an accumulative effect over time.
State Flowers for Alaska and Ohio
Forget-me-nots are a naturalized plant in North America. However in states such as Massachusetts and Connecticut, the species Myosotis scorpioides is listed as a noxious weed. Many species are native to New Zealand and Myosotis alpestris is the state flower of Alaska.
Trillium grandiflorum is a native primarily found in central and eastern United States. Trillium is the state wildflower of Ohio where it is found in all 88 counties.
Permission received for all photos used in this article.
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