How to Grow Forget-me-not Carmine King
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Forget-me-not Carmine King
Myosotis sylvatica 'Carmine King'
flowerCarmine King is a striking cultivar of woodland forget-me-not featuring deep carmine-red flowers with yellow centers, departing from the typical blue blooms. This compact, mounding annual or biennial produces masses of tiny, five-petaled flowers ideal for borders, containers, and cottage gardens. It blooms prolifically from spring through early summer and attracts pollinators.
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Example Forget-me-not Carmine King timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
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Plant Forget-me-not Carmine King
Around Apr 17Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.
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Tend & protect
Late spring–summerWatering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.
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First Forget-me-not Carmine King blooms
Around Jun 16≈ 60 days after planting
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Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Thrives in zones 3-8; performs best in cooler climates with moderate summers
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Germination & Seedling
2-3 weeksTiny seeds germinate in 7-14 days at 65-70°F. Seedlings emerge with oval cotyledons and develop true leaves within 2-3 weeks.
Keep soil consistently moist. Provide bright light and good air circulation. Avoid damping off by maintaining moderate moisture and airflow.
Vegetative Growth
4-6 weeksPlant develops multiple stems and hairy, lance-shaped leaves. Foliage is soft green and forms a compact, bushy mound.
Thin seedlings to 6 inches apart. Pinch back growing tips to encourage branching and fuller shape. Water consistently.
Bud Formation & Early Bloom
2-3 weeksDelicate flower buds appear at stem tips, tightly coiled in characteristic forget-me-not crozier form. First blooms emerge with carmine-red petals and bright yellow centers.
Begin light fertilizing with balanced or high-phosphorus fertilizer. Ensure consistent moisture. Stake if needed in windy locations.
Peak Flowering
6-10 weeksPlant produces abundant carmine-red flowers covering the mounding form. Continuous blooming occurs under optimal conditions.
Deadhead spent flowers regularly to encourage prolonged bloom. Maintain consistent watering and moderate fertilizing. Mulch lightly to keep roots cool.
Decline & Seed Setting
2-4 weeksFlowering slows as temperatures rise and day length increases. Some flowers are left unpruned to set tiny seed capsules.
Stop deadheading select flowers to allow seed maturation. Reduce watering slightly. Allow seeds to dry on plant before collecting if you want self-sowing next year.
Companion Planting
Plan your garden →Plant with:
Avoid planting near:
Common Pests
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Ensure good air circulation; avoid wetting foliage; water at soil level. Apply sulfur or fungicide if severe. Remove affected foliage.
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Hand-pick in early morning or evening. Use slug traps, barriers, or diatomaceous earth. Remove leaf litter that provides hiding spots.
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Ensure proper spacing and air circulation; remove infected leaves immediately. Avoid overhead watering.
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Increase humidity; spray with water or insecticidal soap. Remove heavily infested leaves.
Uses
Edible Flowers
CulinaryThe delicate carmine-red flowers are edible and make charming garnishes for salads, cakes, and desserts. They add a mild, slightly sweet flavor and striking visual appeal to culinary presentations. [source]
Cut Flowers & Arrangements
HouseholdForget-me-nots are excellent for fresh bouquets and cottage-style arrangements. They add dainty texture and unusual color to flower displays and dry well for arrangements. [source]
Pressed Flowers & Crafts
CraftThese small flowers are ideal for pressing and preserve their color well. Use them in bookmarks, card-making, resin crafts, and botanical artwork. [source]
Pollinator Support
WildlifeForget-me-nots are excellent nectar sources for bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. They provide early-season food when few other flowers are blooming. [source]
Traditional Herbal Use
MedicinalIn traditional herbalism, forget-me-not has been used as a weak tea or tincture for respiratory support and soothing irritated mucous membranes, though scientific evidence is limited. [source]
This is not medical advice. LizPlants is not a medical resource. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before using plants medicinally.
Harvest Tips
Cut flowers for arrangements in early morning when stems are turgid. Pinch off clusters of flowers just above a leaf node for continuous blooming and fuller plant shape. For seed collecting, allow flower cymes to fully dry on the plant in late summer, then gently brush to release tiny seeds. Forget-me-nots self-seed readily if some flowers are left unpruned.
Fun Facts
- 🌱 The name 'forget-me-not' originates from a medieval European legend: a knight picked the flowers for his lady but fell into a river and drowned, calling out 'Forget me not!' before disappearing under the water. The flower has symbolized remembrance ever since.
- 🌱 Carmine King's vivid red color is unusual for forget-me-nots, which are traditionally blue; this cultivar was developed to provide dramatic color variation while maintaining the characteristic delicate flower form.
- 🌱 Forget-me-nots self-seed prolifically and can naturalize in gardens, creating charming spontaneous drifts year after year. They were beloved in Victorian cottage gardens and remain popular in romantic garden designs today.
Gardening Terms
New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:
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