Myosotis scorpioides
Water forget-me-not, Water Forget-Me-Not
(c) Patrick Hacker, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Patrick Hacker · licence
Family: Boraginaceae · Type: Herb · Not Native
Myosotis scorpioides (Water forget-me-not) is a non-native California herb in the Boraginaceae family, recognized by creeping/stoloniferous base and high elevation aquatic habitat.
Water forget-me-not is a naturalized perennial herb found in the Sierra Nevada and Warner Mountains in shallow water and wet soil at elevations of 1,050 to 2,100 meters. Flowering from June to August, this plant produces distinctive blue flowers with yellow appendages approximately 5 to 10 millimeters in diameter. Growing with stems 20 to 60 centimeters tall that are often unbranched and partially creeping at the base, the plant has a strigose (stiff-hairy) texture. Its leaves range from 2.5 to 8 centimeters long, with basal leaves oblanceolate and cauline leaves oblong to lance-elliptic in shape. The plant produces small black nutlets that are roughly equal to or slightly shorter than its style.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 3 sympatric species; creeping/stoloniferous base and high elevation aquatic habitat
Habitat and range
Habitat: Shallow water, wet soil
Elevation: (75)1050-2100+ m
California counties: Shasta, Tehama, Siskiyou, Plumas, Modoc, Mendocino, Fresno, Alpine, El Dorado, Placer, Tulare, Inyo, Marin
Outside California: western Oregon, Washington, to eastern North America, native to Europe
Bloom period
Myosotis scorpioides blooms Jun-Aug.
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 scorpioides native to California?
No. Myosotis scorpioides is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Myosotis scorpioides bloom?
Myosotis scorpioides blooms Jun-Aug.
Where in California does Myosotis scorpioides grow?
Myosotis scorpioides occurs in Shasta, Tehama, Siskiyou, Plumas, Modoc, Mendocino, Fresno, Alpine and other counties, at elevations of (75)1050-2100+ m.
What plant family does Myosotis scorpioides belong to?
Myosotis scorpioides is in the Boraginaceae family, genus Myosotis.
What habitat does Myosotis scorpioides grow in?
Myosotis scorpioides grows in Shallow water, wet soil.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Myosotis sp. — Forget-me-not
- Myosotis verna — Early forget-me-not
- Myosotis discolor — Changing forget-me-not
- Myosotis latifolia — Broadleaved forget-me-not
- Myosotis laxa — Bay forget-me-not
- Myosotis micrantha — Small-flowered forget-me-not
- Oreocarya abortiva — Bow-nut oreocarya
- Oreocarya confertiflora — Yellow-flowered oreocarya
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.