What: A charming woodland groundcover, creeping forget-me-not (omphalodes verna) is as tough as it is beautiful. From late winter to early spring, this perennial sends forth short clusters of true blue flowers reminiscent of the true forget-me-not for which it is named. Each brilliant, tiny flower is highlighted against fresh, spring-green leaves.
Use creeping forget-me-not in a shady border to weave through shrubs and perennials. At VanDusen Botanical Garden, it forms a sea of blue underneath the flowering witchhazels in late February and March.
It also can hide the fading foliage of spring bulbs and makes a great, non-competitive groundcover under rhododendrons and other shallow-rooted shrubs and trees.
Creeping forget-me-not is wonderful on its own in a huge drift. It can be combined with brunnera macrophylla “Jack Frost,” helleborus argutifolius (corsican hellebore) and Japanese painted fern (athyrium niponicum var. pictum).
Size: The creeping forget-me-not can grow to 9 inches tall and spread 1 foot wide.
Where: Plant this groundcover in light, open or dappled shade. It prefers a rich moist to well-drained soil and will tolerate sand and clay.
Water: Provide occasional watering during dry weather.
— Richie Steffen, Great Plant Picks
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