Botanical name:

Myosotis rakiura

Common name(s):

Stewart Island forget-me-not

About:

A coastal plant that can be found in the southern regions of the South Island, as well as on Stewart Island and several other islands located in the Foveaux Strait, is quite distinctive. It forms attractive rosettes of rather fleshy, thick leaves and produces rounded heads that showcase small white flowers from late spring until the summer months. This plant is considered to be a relatively easy species to cultivate, as it prefers to be situated in a partially shaded area, thriving best in moist but well-drained soil conditions that support its growth.

Natural habitat:

Coastal in open to partially shaded sites on rocks, cliff faces, in sand flats and in coastal turf bordering streams.

Growing environment:

Frost, Sun, Shade, Wind, Coastal & Free draining tolerant.

Endemic distribution:

New Zealand’s South (coasts of east and south Southland), Stewart and Snares Islands, also islands of Foveaux Strait including Solander Island.

Height: 20cm

Flowering: 

November - January with a white to yellow coloured flower/s 

Fruiting:

January – February

Uses:

Bird food / Attractant, Bee food & Riparian plantings

How to grow:

An attractive and easily grown native forget-me-not. It grows well in a moist but free draining soil. While it can tolerate full sun it does best in semi-shade. Fresh seed germinates readily, and plants once established, freely set seed, producing numerous seedlings. However, in humid climates plants are prone to powdery mildew infections, and like many other indigenous forget-me-nots plants are prone rust infections, which make the leaves swollen and unsightly.

** Seed germinates without pre treatment. 4 weeks cold stratification will help speed this up though