Chatham Islands Forget-Me-Not

Don't forget this one!

This all time favourite best suited to the shady parts of the garden. A beauty with large, glossy leaves. Chatham Island Forget-Me-Not is an outstanding, evergreen perennial. And the leaves are big, up to 30cm long, with textured ribs.

And if the foliage is not enough of a drawcard, there are amazing blue blooms to complete the picture. The flowers are a myriad of blues from dark to light. They proliferate throughout the spring and summer months.

They do like to be beside the seaside, and are native southern New Zealand’s Chatham Islands. They are known locally as kopukapuka. In their native environs they practically grow on the beach, for this reason a seaweed tonic will help to fortify the plants. Ordinary, well-rotted manure will work just as well. They have a reputation for being difficult, but are more often killed with kindness. Plant in a well drained soil, and kept moist and cool and they will prosper.