Myosotis scorpioides

Unlike garden forget-me-nots, which tend to be biennial, water forget-me-not, Myosotis scorpioides, is reliably perennial and gradually expands, without being invasive, into large clumps that benefit from division every few years. It has various slightly different forms depending on whether it grows below or above the water line. It's an essential ingredient of plantings in natural ponds, or at the waterside to hide the edge of the liner and soften the outline, and is equally happy planted in a basket or direct in the soil in shallow water. It provides shelter for aquatic larvae such as tadpoles, and newts lay their eggs individually in the leaves.

Grow Myosotis scorpioides in aquatic compost in water no deeper than 10cm, in full sun to partial shade. Cut back plants after flowering.