Myosotis verna
Early forget-me-not, Early Forget-Me-Not
(c) Celeste Ray, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Boraginaceae · Type: Herb · Not Native
Myosotis verna (Early forget-me-not) is a non-native California herb in the Boraginaceae family, recognized by white flowers unique and diagnostic.
Early forget-me-not is a naturalized annual found in southern Klamath Ranges and northern Sierra Nevada Foothills in moist open woodland and grain fields at elevations below 1,000 meters. Flowering from April to June, this plant produces small white flowers about 1 to 2 millimeters in diameter with delicate, nearly white appendages. Growing with erect stems 10 to 30 centimeters tall covered in rough, coarse hairs, the plant develops distinctive linear to oblanceolate leaves. Its leaves range from 1 to 4 centimeters long, with basal leaves broadly oblanceolate and cauline leaves sessile or lower leaves short-petioled. The fruit consists of small nutlets that are rounded on the outer surface and biconvex on the inner surface.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 3 sympatric species; white flowers unique and diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Moist open woodland, grain fields
Elevation: < 1000 m
Outside California: to southern British Columbia, Idaho, native to Pacific Northwest, eastern North America
Bloom period
Myosotis verna blooms Apr-Jun.
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 verna native to California?
No. Myosotis verna is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Myosotis verna bloom?
Myosotis verna blooms Apr-Jun.
What plant family does Myosotis verna belong to?
Myosotis verna is in the Boraginaceae family, genus Myosotis.
What habitat does Myosotis verna grow in?
Myosotis verna grows in Moist open woodland, grain fields.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- 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
- Myosotis scorpioides — Water forget-me-not
- Myosotis sp. — Forget-me-not
- Oreocarya abortiva — Bow-nut oreocarya
- Oreocarya confertiflora — Yellow-flowered oreocarya
- Oreocarya crymophila — Subalpine oreocarya
- Oreocarya flavoculata — Yellow-eyed oreocarya
Sources: Jepson eFlora · 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.