Most people think they know the forget-me-not. You probably picture that tiny, sky-blue flower with the yellow eye, the kind that pops up in English cottage gardens or makes an appearance on vintage stationary. It’s the Myosotis sylvatica. But then you’re walking through a nursery or scrolling through a seed catalog and you see them—purple forget me not flowers. They look striking. They look deep, moody, and almost regal compared to their cheerful blue cousins.
But here is the thing.
Purple isn't usually the "final" color for most of these plants. If you’ve ever grown them, you might have noticed a weird glitch: the buds start out pink, turn a vivid purple, and then settle into blue. It’s a chemical dance. The plant is basically a living litmus test. As the flower matures, the pH level within the petals shifts, changing the anthocyanin pigments from acidic (pink/purple) to alkaline (blue). So, if you are hunting for a true, everlasting purple forget me not, you are actually looking for specific cultivars or, quite often, an entirely different species that people just label as a forget-me-not because the flowers look similar.
The Science of the "Purple" Shift
Why does this happen? Nature is rarely static. In the world of Boraginaceae—the borage family—pigment instability is a feature, not a bug. Botanists like those at the Royal Horticultural Society have noted for years that the transition from purple to blue serves a biological purpose. It’s a signal to pollinators. Bees are highly sensitive to the blue spectrum. By shifting from a "youthful" purple to a "mature" blue, the plant tells the bees, "Hey, the nectar is ready right here."
If you want the purple to stay, you have to fight the plant's own biology.
Some specific varieties have been bred to stall out in that purple phase. Take 'Victoria Rose' or 'Rosylva.' While they are marketed as pink, in certain soil conditions—specifically more acidic soils—they lean heavily into a deep lavender or orchid purple. It’s not a "pure" purple like a Royal Velvet petunia, but it’s close enough to confuse the average gardener.
Spotting the Imposters: When a Forget-Me-Not Isn't One
If you see a field of vibrant, tall purple flowers labeled as "Purple Forget Me Nots," there is a 90% chance you are looking at Cynoglossum amabile, also known as Chinese Forget-Me-Not.
✨ Don't miss: Exactly What Month is Ramadan 2025 and Why the Dates Shift
It’s a different beast entirely.
While Myosotis (the true forget-me-not) likes shade, moisture, and cool feet, Cynoglossum is a sun-lover. It’s an annual, it grows much taller—sometimes up to two feet—and it comes in a variety called 'Firmament' that hits a deep, dusky indigo that many people mistake for purple. Then there’s the 'Mystery Rose' variety of Cynoglossum, which stays a solid, dusty mauve-purple throughout its life cycle.
Honestly, it's a bit of a marketing scam in the seed industry. They know "Forget-Me-Not" has romantic, nostalgic value. "Chinese Firmament Borage" just doesn't sell as many packets at the local Home Depot. But if you want that purple aesthetic without the blue-shift, the "imposter" is actually your best friend.
How to Grow Purple Forget Me Not Flowers Without Killing Them
These plants are finicky. Or rather, they are incredibly hardy until they aren't. True Myosotis thrives in USDA zones 3 through 8. They love the damp. If you have a spot in your yard where the hose leaks or the drainage is a bit sluggish, that’s where they want to be.
- Soil Acidity Matters. If you want to keep the purple tones in varieties like 'Rosylva' for as long as possible, keep your soil slightly on the acidic side. Once the soil becomes too lime-heavy or alkaline, the flowers will "blue out" much faster.
- The Self-Seeding Chaos. Forget-me-nots are biennials. This means they spend the first year growing leaves and the second year flowering. After they flower, they die. But—and this is a big but—they drop thousands of seeds. If you plant them once, you’ll have them forever. Some people call this "naturalizing." Others call it "an invasive nightmare."
- Mildew is the Enemy. Because they like shade and moisture, they are magnets for powdery mildew. It looks like someone dusted your plants with flour. To prevent this, don't water them from the top. Aim for the dirt.
I’ve seen gardeners get frustrated because their "purple" patch turned blue within three days. You have to appreciate the transition. It’s a sunset in a flower. If you can't handle the color change, stick to the Cynoglossum mentioned earlier.
The Symbolism: Why We Care About the Color
The "forget-me-not" name comes from a German legend of a knight who fell into a river while picking flowers for his lady. As he was swept away by the weight of his armor, he tossed the bouquet to her and screamed, "Forget me not!"
🔗 Read more: Dutch Bros Menu Food: What Most People Get Wrong About the Snacks
Morbid? Yes. Romantic? Apparently.
Traditionally, the blue represents fidelity. But the purple forget me not flowers have carved out their own niche. Purple is the color of royalty, but also of mourning and remembrance. In many modern circles, the purple variation is used to represent Alzheimer’s awareness or general dementia support. It’s a subtle shift from the "romantic fidelity" of the blue flower to a deeper, more somber "remembrance of the soul."
Common Mistakes Gardeners Make
Most people treat these like marigolds. They buy them in a flat, stick them in a sunny flower bed, and wonder why they look like fried lettuce by July.
They hate the heat.
If you live in a place like Georgia or Texas, your purple forget-me-nots are a spring-only affair. They will melt the moment the thermometer hits 85 degrees. In the Pacific Northwest or the UK? They’ll take over your entire lawn.
Another mistake? Deadheading. If you cut off the dead flowers to keep the plant looking "clean," you are stopping the next generation. You have to let them get ugly. Let the stems turn brown and crispy. Let the seeds fall. If you don't, you won't have any flowers next year. It’s a trade-off: a messy garden for a few weeks in exchange for a lifetime of purple blooms.
💡 You might also like: Draft House Las Vegas: Why Locals Still Flock to This Old School Sports Bar
Varieties to Look For
If you are hunting for seeds, don't just look for "Purple Forget Me Not." You need specific names.
- Myosotis 'Victoria Rose': It’s technically pink, but in the right light and soil, it’s a stunning lilac-purple.
- Cynoglossum 'Mystery Rose': This is the "fake" one, but it stays purple. No blue-shift.
- Myosotis sylvatica 'Blue Basket': Wait, why blue? Because this variety is so saturated that it often looks deep violet before it fully opens.
Actionable Steps for Your Garden
If you're ready to add these to your landscape, don't just wing it.
Start by checking your soil pH. You can get a cheap kit at any hardware store. If your soil is 7.0 or higher, you're going to get blue flowers regardless of what the seed packet says. Add some peat moss or elemental sulfur to bring that number down if you’re dead-set on the purple spectrum.
Plant them in the fall. Most people wait until spring, but these seeds actually benefit from a "cold stratification"—a fancy way of saying they need to freeze a little to wake up. Scatter them on top of the soil in October or November. Don't bury them; they need a little light to germinate.
Lastly, watch the water. These aren't succulents. If the soil feels dry to the touch, you’ve waited too long. Keep them consistently moist, especially if they are in pots. If you follow these steps, you won't just have a fleeting moment of color; you'll have a self-sustaining cycle of one of the most misunderstood flowers in the garden.