MHG Volunteer Blog 18: Forget-me-not

It's time for the latest blog from our dedicated team of volunteer gardeners at Pontefract Castle.

Find out more about their blog series here.

After weeks of sunshine, May Bank Holiday rolls around and it’s back to thermals and fleeces! 

Carole spent the day sorting out the “nursery”. She pricked out seedlings and potted-on cuttings for sale. It was a welcome respite from weeding, which will start again next week.

Seedlings potted-on for sale at Pontefract Castle

She also spent quite a lot of time talking to the visitors who had braved the cold. Most of the conversations were about liquorice. She did enjoy talking to a couple from Swinton about plants in general. They also discussed the sinking of the RMS Titanic, about which the husband was very knowledgeable.

Plant of the Week - Forget-me-not (myosotis symphytifolia)

Myosotis is a genus of flowering plants in the borage family. The name comes from the Ancient Greek for "mouse's ear", which the foliage is thought to resemble. It has many common names such as wood forget-me-not, mouse ear, scorpion grass, bird’s eye, robin’s eye, and love-me.

The forget-me-not is a biennial plant from the Northern hemisphere. It grows to a height of 18 inches. It has alternate grey-green leaves and small bright blue five-lobed flowers with white or yellow centres.  

It will grow in practically any soil type, in any aspect, but prefers moist, but well-drained, soil in partial shade. 

It flowers in late Spring or early Summer. The flowers have a subtle floral smell which is usually only noticeable at night.

Forget-me-nots growing at Pontefract Castle

Culinary uses of Forget-me-nots

Forget-me-nots have a delicate, slightly sweet, and mild floral flavour.  They can be added to salads, or used in cakes and baked goods. They can also be incorporated into syrups or even made into tea.

Folklore and other facts about Forget-me-nots

There are many Christian and folklore explanations about how the plant got its name, and its association with remembrance.

There is a German legend where a knight was walking with his lady near the Danube River and decided to pick the blue flowers for her. While picking the flowers he fell in the river and as he was swept away, he tossed the flowers to his love crying out to her "Forget-me-not!".

It is used in Germany to commemorate the fallen soldiers of the World Wars. This is similar to remembrance poppies in the UK.

In some traditions, it is believed that carrying or wearing forget-me-not flowers can protect against evil spirits and curses. This belief led to the inclusion of forget-me-not flowers in charms, amulets, and talismans for protection, and good fortune.

In this country, many health institutions use the forget-me-not as a symbol. It is used on notes, lists and at the side of beds to highlight that someone has dementia. The forget-me-not is the symbol of the Alzheimer's Society in Britain, New Zealand and the Netherlands.

Forget-me-not is food for the larvae of some lepidoptera species, including the hover fly (sphaerophoria scripta). Its nectar and pollen is enjoyed by bumblebees and butterflies.

Medieval uses*

King Henry IV of England, who owned Pontefract Castle, used this flower symbol as his lucky charm during his exile, as Henry Bolingbroke, in 1398.

In traditional medicine, the whole forget-me-not plant was used.  It was used as a topical application for wounds and eye infections. It treated a variety of other ailments, such as lung problems and nosebleeds. 

*As always, this isn't to be considered medical advice today. Please don't use any plants mentioned in these blogs as medicine without advice from a doctor.