Myosotidium hortensia Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS
Myosotidium hortensia — 9cm / 0.5L
Chatham Island Forget-me-not

Myosotidium hortensia

£11.99
Protect from hard frostShade-tolerantEvergreenLoved by pollinators
Pot size

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Description

The Myosotidium hortensia, better known as the Chatham Island forget-me-not, is one of the most coveted foliage-and-flower perennials for a cool, sheltered British garden. Endemic to the wind-scoured beaches of the Chatham Islands off New Zealand, it forms a bold rosette of large, glossy, deeply ribbed rounded leaves, then lifts domes of intense forget-me-not blue flowers, each paling to a white-edged rim, in late spring and early summer. It is a true collector's plant that rewards the right position with a display few other perennials can match.

This is a half-hardy plant, happiest in mild and coastal gardens where winters are gentle. It dislikes hard frost, cold drying winds and wet winter soil, so it is best given a sheltered spot and protected over winter in colder or inland areas. Evergreen in mild conditions, its architectural leaves hold structure through much of the year, with die-back likely after frost. It pairs beautifully with ferns, hostas and other shade-loving foliage in an exotic border.

Water steadily through the growing season and mulch each spring with leaf mould or a seaweed-based feed to keep the foliage lush. It also thrives in a large container of free-draining, humus-rich compost, making it a flexible choice for a shaded courtyard or patio, so browse our range of plants for pots and containers. For a fuller picture of how hardy exotics settle in through the seasons, read our what to expect guide.

A choice, sought-after plant for the discerning gardener, Myosotidium hortensia sits perfectly within our wider collection of hardy exotics. Every plant we supply is nursery-grown, carefully selected for a healthy crown and strong root system, and packed with care to arrive in superb condition.

Live Arrival Guarantee

All plants are covered by our 7-day live arrival guarantee. We pack every order in protective, sustainable packaging designed to keep your plants safe in transit, and every plant is checked before it ships. On the rare occasion something is not right on arrival, we will make it good, provided the plant is still in its original nursery pot.

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What to Expect

Seasonal by nature: what to expect

  • Grown outdoors, the way nature intended. Weather-tested and hardened in real UK conditions, so they thrive in your garden. A few marks on the older leaves are normal, the sign of a tough, real plant rather than a flaw.
  • It follows the seasons. Depending on when you order, your plant may arrive cut back, dormant or leafless. That's healthy: dormancy is the ideal time to plant.
  • Posted, not posed. Big leafy plants like bananas and gingers may be trimmed or gently folded to travel safely. It does the plant no harm, and it powers away again in spring.

Not sure what to expect from yours? Dormant, cut-back or weather-marked plants are all perfectly healthy and normal. Read what to expect through the seasons

Delivery & returns

Order by 1pm Monday to Friday for same day dispatch. Every plant travels in protective, plant-safe packaging with tracked delivery.

Changed your mind? See our Return Policy.

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How to care for Chatham Island Forget-me-not

Give me sun with a little shade and protect me when hard frost threatens.

In their words

What our customers say

Arrived just like the photos - maybe even fuller. Healthy, well-acclimated, and straight into my collection with no issues.

Emily P.

Flawless leaves, stunning variegation, and clearly cared for by experts. It’s already a talking point in my home office.

James R.

Hard to find rare plants that are pet-safe. Ours arrived in perfect condition and looks amazing without any worry.

Sophie L.
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About Chatham Island Forget-me-not

Myosotidium hortensia needs partial shade and moist but well-drained soil. It is half-hardy to around −5°C and needs protection from hard frost.

Good for

Coastal & Exposed Exotic Borders Pots & Containers Shade

Hardiness

TenderVery hardy

RHS H3 · Semi-hardy · down to around −5°C

half-hardy, superb in mild and coastal gardens, but give it a sheltered spot and winter protection in colder or inland areas, or grow it in a pot to move under cover.

Position

Partial shadeEast-facingWest-facingExposedSheltered

cool, light dappled to partial shade, sheltered from cold, drying winds, ideal for shaded planting.

Soil

LoamSandMoist but well-drainedAcid pHNeutral pH

humus-rich, gritty, moist but well-drained loam or sand on the acid to neutral side, kept a little drier over winter.

Watering

Water regularly through the first couple of growing seasons to build a strong root system, keeping the soil moist but never waterlogged. Mulch each spring with leaf mould or a seaweed-based feed. Once established it needs less attention but appreciates steady moisture in dry spells. Read moreShow less

Water regularly through the first couple of growing seasons to build a strong root system, keeping the soil moist but never waterlogged. Mulch each spring with leaf mould or a seaweed-based feed. Once established it needs less attention but appreciates steady moisture in dry spells.

Mature size

Height45-60 cm
Spread60 cm - 1 m

Reaches full size in 2-5 years

Growth habit

Clump-forming

Flowering

May-Jun · Blue

Seasonal colour

Foliage

Evergreen

Pruning

Deadhead the faded flower spikes in early summer and pull away old or damaged leaves; leave the evergreen crown intact.

Toxicity

No significant toxicity to people or pets is widely reported for this plant. As a sensible precaution it is not intended for eating, so keep it away from curious pets and children and wash hands after handling.

Native range

Chatham Islands (New Zealand)

Family

Boraginaceae

Also known as

Myosotidium hortensia

Genus

Myosotidium
Good to know

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Myosotidium hortensia hardy in the UK?

Not reliably. Although the RHS lists it as H4, in practice the Chatham Island forget-me-not is best treated as half-hardy. It dislikes hard frost, cold drying winds and wet winter soil, and is happiest in mild and coastal gardens. In colder or inland areas give it a sheltered spot and winter protection, or grow it in a pot that can be moved somewhere frost-free over winter. Read our what to expect guide.

Does the Chatham Island forget-me-not prefer sun or shade?

It thrives in cool, light dappled to partial shade and dislikes hot, dry full sun. An east or west-facing, sheltered position is ideal, making it a lovely choice for shaded planting.

What soil does Myosotidium hortensia need?

Grow it in humus-rich, gritty, moist but well-drained loam or sand on the acid to neutral side. Improve heavy ground with leaf mould and grit, and keep the crown a little drier over winter to avoid rot.

When does Myosotidium hortensia flower?

Domes of intense blue forget-me-not flowers appear in late spring and early summer, roughly May to June, each bloom paling to a white-edged rim above the bold glossy foliage. It looks superb in an exotic border.

Can I grow Myosotidium hortensia in a pot?

Yes. It grows well in a large container of free-draining, humus-rich compost, which also lets you move it to a sheltered, shaded spot for winter. Browse more plants for pots and containers.

Is Myosotidium hortensia evergreen and good for coastal gardens?

Its bold, glossy, ribbed leaves are evergreen in mild gardens, though some die-back can occur on colder, exposed sites. Salt tolerant and happiest in mild, maritime conditions, it is an excellent choice for coastal gardens.

Does my plant come with a pot?
Your plant will arrive in its nursery grow pot — the plastic pot it's been growing in. We don't include a decorative pot as standard, and there's a good reason for that: it means you get to choose one that fits your space and style, rather than being stuck with something that doesn't suit your home.

It also means you're not paying extra for a pot you might not want. The nursery pot is perfectly fine to keep your plant in for a while, just pop it inside a decorative cover pot or cache pot and you're good to go. When you're ready to repot (usually after a growing season or when roots start poking out the bottom), you can move it into something more permanent with fresh soil.

If you're not sure what size cover pot to go for, check the pot selector tool listed above, you'll want a decorative pot that's a centimetre or two wider than that to give it a comfortable fit.
How big will my plant be when it arrives?
Every plant on our site includes the pot size (e.g. 12cm) and, where possible, an approximate height. That's the most reliable way to set your expectations, photos can sometimes make a plant look larger or smaller than it really is.

If you're thinking "that sounds quite small for the price," here's something worth knowing: younger, smaller plants almost always adapt better to your home than larger ones. They adjust faster to your light and humidity, put out new growth more quickly, and tend to establish stronger root systems long-term. A plant that grows into your space will usually outperform one that was already big when it arrived.

That said, every plant is an individual. The one you receive may vary slightly in height, shape, or fullness compared to the photo, that's the nature of living things, not a quality issue. We select healthy, well-established specimens, and if you ever feel your plant doesn't match what you were expecting, just get in touch and we'll take a look.
What makes your plants different from the supermarket or garden centre?
There's a big difference between a plant that's been sitting under on a retail shelf and one that's been looked after and cared for by people who specialise in exactly this.

Our plants are grown in house or sourced from specialist nurseries, many of them varieties you simply won't find at your local garden centre or supermarket. Before anything leaves us, it's checked over by our horticultural team to make sure it's healthy, well-rooted, and ready to thrive in your home. We're not shifting volume off a pallet, we're choosing plants we'd want to keep ourselves.

When you buy from a supermarket, you get a plant and a generic care label. When you buy from us, you get the knowledge that comes with it, detailed care guidance, a team you can actually contact if something isn't going right, and the confidence that what's arriving has been looked after properly from the moment it was grown to the moment it reaches your door.

We're a specialist nursery first, not a retailer that happens to sell plants. That's the difference, and you'll see it the moment you open the box.
What should I do when my plant arrives?
First things first, unbox it as soon as you can. Plants don't love being in dark boxes any more than you would, and the sooner yours is out and breathing, the better.

Remove all the packaging carefully, give the soil a check with your finger, and water lightly if it feels dry. Then find it a spot with appropriate light, but avoid putting it straight into harsh direct sun or next to a radiator. Think of it like arriving somewhere new after a long journey: it needs a moment to adjust.

It's completely normal for your plant to look a little tired or droopy after transit. This is called transit stress, and most plants bounce back within a week or two. You might see a yellow leaf or some drooping, don't panic, and resist the urge to overwater or start repotting straight away.

Our advice for the first couple of weeks: leave it in its nursery pot, water it only when the top layer of soil feels dry, and let it acclimatise to your home's light, temperature, and humidity. Once it's settled in and showing signs of new growth, you can think about repotting or moving it to its permanent spot.

Every plant we sell comes with a care guide on the product page so you'll know exactly what it needs going forward. And if anything doesn't look right, get in touch with our team, we're always happy to help.
Will my plant survive being shipped?
Yes! and we go to serious lengths to make sure of it. Every plant is hand-packed by our team with protective wrapping and secure, custom-designed boxes to keep it stable and safe in transit. We've shipped hundreds of thousands of plants across the UK and our packaging methods have been refined over years to handle the bumps and jolts of delivery.

During colder months, we monitor weather forecasts and offer heat packs where needed to protect against frost. In extreme conditions, we may hold your order for a day or two rather than risk sending it out, we'd rather you wait an extra day than receive a stressed plant.

That said, plants are living things, and the occasional transit wobble can happen. If your plant arrives damaged or isn't in the condition you'd expect, just get in touch within 48 hours with a photo, and we'll make it right, whether that's a replacement or a full refund. No fuss.

The short version: we treat every box like it's going to someone who really cares about what's inside, because it is.
Why Grow Tropicals

Plants delivered the way they deserve

Packaged with Care

Packaged with Care

Every order is hand-packed in eco-friendly, protective packaging - refined through thousands of deliveries to ensure your plant arrives healthy, hydrated, and looking its best.

Backed by our Live Arrival Guarantee.

Perfect for Gifting

Perfect for Gifting

From rare collector’s pieces to easy-care favourites, our plants arrive fully potted and ready to enjoy. Add a personalised note at checkout for a thoughtful finishing touch.

Delivered fresh, beautiful, and gift-ready.

Sustainability at Heart

Sustainability at Heart

All plants are ethically sourced from trusted growers, never wild-collected. Every order ships carbon-neutral in minimal-waste packaging.

Good for your home - and the planet.

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Myosotidium hortensia
£11.99