The Meaning of Forget-Me-Not Flowers

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Learn all about the history, legends, & lore of these beautiful blooms

Co-authored by Lauren Sanders and Annabelle Reyes

Last Updated: February 7, 2025 Fact Checked

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Meanings

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Symbolism

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History, Legends, & Lore

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Etymology & Other Names

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Gardening & Care Info

With their vibrant hues and small, delicate petals, it’s no wonder that forget-me-nots are such a popular flower. But did you know that these tiny blooms represent some major themes, like true love, devotion, and fidelity? If you’re interested in learning more about forget-me-nots, you’ve come to the right place! We’ll go over their symbolic meanings, popular legends and lore, and modern associations. We’ll also cover some care tips if you’re hoping to grow forget-me-nots yourself, so keep reading!

Forget Me Not Flower Meaning

Forget-me-nots represent true love, devotion, and faithfulness. They’re often given to spouses, significant others, or friends to convey deep affection and loyalty. Forget-me-nots are also seen as symbols of remembrance for loved ones who have passed away, or who live in a faraway location.

Section 1 of 5:

Forget-Me-Not Meanings

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Forget-me-nots have been symbols of romantic love for hundreds of years. This association began in the Middle Ages and carried through to the Victorian era, when forget-me-nots were used to decorate valentines.^{[1]
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Research source} In this day and age, many people give forget-me-nots to their spouses or significant others to convey deep affection, respect, and trust.
Forget-me-nots symbolize faithfulness and loyalty between romantic partners or friends.^{[2]
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Research source} For example, you can give a bouquet of forget-me-nots to your significant other or spouse to symbolize your everlasting commitment to each other. You can also give them to a close friend to celebrate years of loyal friendship.

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As their name would suggest, forget-me-nots also represent remembrance for a loved one who is far away. The flowers make a great gift for a long-distance partner or a friend who is moving to another city. The beautiful blooms will remind them of your enduring affection. You can also display forget-me-nots in your home as a tribute to someone who has passed away.^{[3]
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Section 2 of 5:

Forget-Me-Nots as a Symbol

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Forget-me-nots are the state flower of Alaska. The alpine forget-me-not (also called Myosotis asiatica or Myosotis alpestris) was named Alaska’s official state flower in 1949. These flowers are thought to represent the perseverance of Alaska’s first pioneers.
- The blue background of Alaska’s state flag represents both the Alaskan sky and the blue color of forget-me-nots.^{[4]
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Forget-me-nots are a birth flower for the month of September. You may have heard that the aster and the morning glory are the official September birth flowers, but many people also recognize forget-me-nots as a bonus birth flower for this month.^{[5]
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- If you’re looking for a birthday gift for someone born in September, consider making them a bouquet with all three of these flowers.
- Asters represent purity and wisdom, morning glories represent resilience, and forget-me-nots represent love, so your bouquet will carry a beautiful symbolic meaning!^{[6]
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Forget-me-nots are symbols for many organizations and causes. For example, The Alzheimer’s Society uses the flower as a symbol to raise awareness for the disease. Forget-me-nots have also been adopted by the Armenian Genocide Centennial as a symbol of remembrance.^{[7]
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- In Newfoundland, forget-me-nots represent those who fell during World War I.
- Forget-me-nots are also the official symbol of International Missing Children’s day.^{[8]
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Section 3 of 5:

Forget-Me-Not History, Legends, & Lore

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In the story, a young knight and his lady notice beautiful blue flowers growing near the bank of a river. The knight tries to retrieve the flowers for his lady, but he ends up falling into the river and getting swept up in the current. As the knight drowns, he throws the flowers to his lover and shouts, “Forget me not!”^{[9]
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According to the well-known German legend, God bestows names upon all the plants He created, except for one tiny blue flower. Afraid of being passed over, the unnamed flower calls out, “Forget me not, O Lord!” In response, God declares, “That shall be your name!”
When he was exiled from court in 1398, Henry adopted this flower as his personal symbol. He retained this emblem when he regained his position and assumed the throne of England in 1399.^{[10]
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In the Victorian language of flowers, forget-me-nots symbolize true love. During this time period, people sent each other flowers to convey messages that couldn’t be spoken aloud. In this flower language, forget-me-nots represented love, devotion and everlasting faithfulness. They also conveyed the message, “Do not forget me.”^{[11]
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- The flowers were also common gifts for loved ones who were moving far away. In this context, a bouquet of forget-me-nots meant, “I will miss you.”^{[12]
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Section 4 of 5:

Etymology & Other Names

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The flower is part of the genus Myosotis, a name that comes from the Greek words for “mouse” and “ear.” This name refers to the petals of forget-me-nots, which have rounded edges with a slight notch in the middle. Many people believe that the shape greatly resembles a small mouse ear.^{[13]
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This name comes from the shape of the plant’s stem. Before the flowers bloom, the stem appears coiled, like a scorpion’s tail. It then slowly uncurls as the flowers open up.^{[14]
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Section 5 of 5:

Forget-Me-Not Gardening & Care Information

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Forget-me-nots grow well in a range of locations and temperatures. They are considered hardy in the U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 3-8, which means they will thrive in these areas.^{[15]
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- Plant hardiness zones are determined by the USDA to help gardeners know which plants will grow well in their geographical location.
- If you’re in the U.S. and you’re wondering what plant hardiness zone your home is in, check out this interactive map on the USDA’s website.
If the temperature gets very hot where you live, plant your forget-me-nots in a partially shaded area of your garden, since high heat can be damaging to the flowers. If you live in a more temperate climate, your forget-me-nots should do fine in full sunlight, though they’ll also grow well in partial or dappled sunlight.^{[16]
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Forget-me-nots require consistently moist soil. This means that you’ll need to water them regularly to make sure they thrive.^{[17]
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Research source} To determine whether your forget-me-nots need water, use your hands to feel the soil around the plant. If the top two inches feel dry to the touch, it’s time to water the flowers.^{[18]
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- The frequency of watering will depend on the climate in your area, and on the time of year.
- If you live in a very rainy area, for example, you’ll need to water the flowers less often, especially throughout the fall and winter seasons.
- When the weather gets warmed in the spring and summer, you’ll likely need to water the forget-me-nots more often.^{[19]
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If you live in a colder area, and you’re planting your forget-me-nots in an outdoor garden, sow your seeds close to the last frost date in spring. In warmer locations, plant your seeds in fall for a spring bloom.^{[20]
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