Myosotis laxa
Bay forget-me-not
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Family: Boraginaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Myosotis laxa (Bay forget-me-not) is a native California herb in the Boraginaceae family, recognized by only native species, appressed non-hooked hairs diagnostic.
Bay forget-me-not is a California native perennial found in northwestern California (excluding northern Coast Ranges), northern and southern Sierra Nevada, and Sacramento Valley in moist soils and shallow water at elevations up to 2,050 meters. Flowering from May to September, this plant produces delicate blue flowers with yellow appendages about 2 to 5 millimeters in diameter. Growing with slender, weak stems 10 to 40 centimeters tall that are often decumbent and slightly hairy, it spreads with a sprawling growth habit. Its leaves range from 1.5 to 8 centimeters long, with basal leaves oblanceolate and stem leaves becoming more oblong to lanceolate. The tiny brown to black nutlets are less than 2 millimeters long and extend beyond the flower's style.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 5 sympatric species; only native species, appressed non-hooked hairs diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Moist soil to generally shallow water
Elevation: < 2050(2400) m
California counties: El Dorado, Kern, Mendocino, Siskiyou, Tehama, Shasta, Alpine, Mono, Humboldt, Sacramento, Plumas, Butte, Del Norte, Modoc
Outside California: to southern British Columbia, western Montana, +- circumboreal, South America
Bloom period
Myosotis laxa blooms May-Sep.
How to tell it apart
vs Hackelia: Myosotis has smooth seeds; Hackelia seeds have hooked barbs that grab clothing.; vs Plagiobothrys: Myosotis flowers are bright blue with flat, round faces; Plagiobothrys flowers are white and more tubular.; vs Adelinia: Myosotis has bright blue flowers with yellow eyes; Adelinia flowers are typically white.; vs Cynoglossum: Myosotis has smooth seeds; Cynoglossum has barbed seeds forming dense burrs.; vs Cryptantha: Myosotis has flat blue flowers with yellow centers; Cryptantha has tiny white tubular flowers.
Frequently asked questions
Is Myosotis laxa native to California?
Yes. Myosotis laxa is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Myosotis laxa bloom?
Myosotis laxa blooms May-Sep.
Where in California does Myosotis laxa grow?
Myosotis laxa occurs in El Dorado, Kern, Mendocino, Siskiyou, Tehama, Shasta, Alpine, Mono and other counties, at elevations of < 2050(2400) m.
What plant family does Myosotis laxa belong to?
Myosotis laxa is in the Boraginaceae family, genus Myosotis.
What habitat does Myosotis laxa grow in?
Myosotis laxa grows in Moist soil to generally shallow water.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.