Cynoglossum (Chinese Forget-Me-Not) in Zone 8a & 8b
Cynoglossum amabile
Yes, cynoglossum (Chinese forget-me-not) grows in zones 8a and 8b. Start seeds indoors Feb 25–Mar 4 and plant out Mar 4–Mar 11.
When to plant cynoglossum (Chinese forget-me-not) in zone 8b
Zones 8a and 8b 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 | Feb 25–Mar 4 |
|---|---|
| Direct sow / transplant outside | Mar 4–Mar 11 |
| Estimated bloom | May 18–May 25 (~75 days after planting) |
Spacing: 4 per square foot (square-foot-gardening spacing). Mature height: 1.5-2 ft.
Plant alongside it in zone 8b
These go outside within two weeks of cynoglossum (Chinese forget-me-not) in zone 8b, so one planting day can cover them.
- Black-Eyed SusanMar 4–Mar 11
- Clarkia (Farewell-to-Spring)Mar 4–Mar 11
- Phacelia (Lacy Phacelia)Mar 4–Mar 11
- Purple ConeflowerMar 4–Mar 11
- Saponaria (Soapwort)Mar 4–Mar 11
- Shasta DaisyMar 4–Mar 11
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 8's season
Zone 8b's frost-free window runs about 230 days, from March 25 to November 10. 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 8b 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 | 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 (your zone) | 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 →
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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 8b calendar · Plan your beds in the Garden Designer →
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Growing Cynoglossum (Chinese Forget-Me-Not) in USDA zone 8b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a bloom.
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