Cynoglossum (Chinese Forget-Me-Not) in Zone 3a & 3b
Cynoglossum amabile
Yes, cynoglossum (Chinese forget-me-not) grows in zones 3a and 3b. Start seeds indoors May 2–May 9 and plant out May 9–May 16.
When to plant cynoglossum (Chinese forget-me-not) in zone 3b
Zones 3a and 3b share the same average frost dates, so this page covers both.
Method: Either: Start indoors for an earlier harvest, or direct-sow outside for less fuss. Either works.
| Start indoors | May 2–May 9 |
|---|---|
| Direct sow / transplant outside | May 9–May 16 |
| Estimated bloom | Jul 23–Jul 30 (~75 days after planting) |
Spacing: 4 per square foot (square-foot-gardening spacing). Mature height: 1.5-2 ft.
Plant alongside it in zone 3b
These go outside within two weeks of cynoglossum (Chinese forget-me-not) in zone 3b, so one planting day can cover them.
- Black-Eyed SusanMay 9–May 16
- Clarkia (Farewell-to-Spring)May 9–May 16
- Phacelia (Lacy Phacelia)May 9–May 16
- Purple ConeflowerMay 9–May 16
- Saponaria (Soapwort)May 9–May 16
- Agrostemma (Corn Cockle)May 16–May 23
Cynoglossum, commonly called Chinese forget-me-not, is a true-blue cut flower similar in color to a garden forget-me-not but larger-flowered and considerably easier to grow from seed.
How cynoglossum (Chinese forget-me-not) fits zone 3's season
Zone 3b's frost-free window runs about 98 days, from May 30 to September 5. Cynoglossum (Chinese forget-me-not) needs about 75 days from sowing to first bloom.
Cynoglossum (Chinese Forget-Me-Not) planting windows in every zone
Zone 3b is highlighted. Useful for comparing against a neighbouring zone, or for a garden somewhere else.
| Zone | Start indoors | Sow or plant out | Bloom |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2a & 2b | Apr 22–Apr 29 | Apr 29–May 6 | Jul 13–Jul 20 |
| 3a & 3b (your zone) | May 2–May 9 | May 9–May 16 | Jul 23–Jul 30 |
| 4a & 4b | Apr 17–Apr 24 | Apr 24–May 1 | Jul 8–Jul 15 |
| 5a & 5b | Apr 12–Apr 19 | Apr 19–Apr 26 | Jul 3–Jul 10 |
| 6a & 6b | Mar 28–Apr 4 | Apr 4–Apr 11 | Jun 18–Jun 25 |
| 7a & 7b | Mar 13–Mar 20 | Mar 20–Mar 27 | Jun 3–Jun 10 |
| 8a & 8b | Feb 25–Mar 4 | Mar 4–Mar 11 | May 18–May 25 |
| 9a & 9b | Jan 18–Jan 25 | Jan 25–Feb 1 | Apr 10–Apr 17 |
| 10a & 10b | Jan 2–Jan 9 | Jan 9–Jan 16 | Mar 25–Apr 1 |
| 11a & 11b | Dec 4–Dec 11 | Dec 11–Dec 18 | Feb 24–Mar 3 |
Bloom dates are about 75 days after the sow or plant-out date, not after starting seeds indoors.
Zone 2 sows before zone 3 here, which looks wrong and is not. USDA zones rank winter cold, not season length, and zone 2 is mostly interior Alaska, where hard winters come with warm summers. More on what a zone measures.
Good companions
No well-established companions for cynoglossum (Chinese forget-me-not).
Where to buy cynoglossum seeds
None of the seed suppliers we list carries cynoglossum seeds right now. A local garden center or a specialty seed house is the place to look.
See why we recommend these suppliers →
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Some links on this page also go to other retailers we may earn a commission from as an affiliate, at no extra cost to you. We only recommend products with a clear consensus of positive, independent reviews, or ones we bought and use ourselves. Each item on our gear page says which.
See it growing
Search YouTube for "growing cynoglossum (Chinese forget-me-not)" videos → (a live search, not a hand-picked video; results vary and aren't vetted by us)
← Back to the full zone 3b calendar · Plan your beds in the Garden Designer →
%20in%20USDA%20zone%203b%3A%20when%20to%20start%20seeds%20indoors%2C%20when%20to%20direct-sow%2C%20and%20when%20to%20expect%20a%20bloom.)
Pin this for later
Growing Cynoglossum (Chinese Forget-Me-Not) in USDA zone 3b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a bloom.
Save to Pinterest