Chinese forget-me-not (Chinese hound’s tongue) Cynoglossum amabile
Chinese forget-me-not (Chinese hound’s tongue) (Cynoglossum amabile) is a biennial flowering plant in the Boraginaceae family, native to Eastern Himalaya and south-western China. It grows 40–60 cm (16–24 in) tall and 25–35 cm (10–14 in) wide, wants full sun and moderate water, and is hardy to about -15 °C (5 °F). Space plants about 25 cm (10 in) apart.
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Chinese forget-me-not (Chinese hound’s tongue) at a glance
| Type | Biennial flowering plant |
|---|---|
| Family | Boraginaceae |
| Mature height | 40–60 cm (16–24 in) |
| Mature spread | 25–35 cm (10–14 in) |
| Spacing | 25 cm (10 in) centre to centre |
| Sun | Full sun, at least 5 h of direct sun a day |
| Water | Moderate; drought tolerance low, waterlogging tolerance none |
| Soil pH | 6–7.5 |
| Cold hardiness | About -15 °C (5 °F) once established (roughly USDA zone 7) |
| Heat stress | Likely above about 30 °C (86 °F) |
| Flowering | about 13–43 weeks after planting, for 7–11 weeks |
| Days to maturity | About 200 days from planting |
| Wind tolerance | Low |
| Pollinator value | High |
| Edible | Not grown as food |
| Native to | Eastern Himalaya and south-western China |
| Common in gardens of | 🇨🇳 China, 🇮🇳 India, 🇬🇧 United Kingdom, 🇮🇪 Ireland, 🇺🇸 United States, 🇯🇵 Japan |
Is Chinese forget-me-not (Chinese hound’s tongue) toxic?
- People: moderately toxic
- Cats: moderately toxic
- Dogs: moderately toxic
- Parts: all parts
Cynoglossum species hold pyrrolizidine alkaloids that can harm the liver if eaten, and are a known risk to livestock.
If a child or pet may have eaten part of a plant, call a poison centre or vet straight away.
Companion planting: what to grow with Chinese forget-me-not (Chinese hound’s tongue)
No well-documented helpful pairing. Group it with plants that like full sun and moderate water.
Questions about Chinese forget-me-not (Chinese hound’s tongue)
- How far apart should I plant Chinese forget-me-not (Chinese hound’s tongue)?
- About 25 cm (10 in) apart, centre to centre. A mature plant spreads 25–35 cm (10–14 in).
- Does Chinese forget-me-not (Chinese hound’s tongue) need full sun?
- Full sun: at least 5 hours of direct sun a day.
- How much water does Chinese forget-me-not (Chinese hound’s tongue) need?
- Moderate water. Drought tolerance is low and waterlogging tolerance none.
- How cold-hardy is Chinese forget-me-not (Chinese hound’s tongue)?
- It tolerates about -15 °C (5 °F) once established, roughly USDA zone 7. As a biennial it is usually planted out after the last frost and flowers in its second year.
- When does Chinese forget-me-not (Chinese hound’s tongue) flower?
- About 13–43 weeks after planting, for 7–11 weeks.
- Is Chinese forget-me-not (Chinese hound’s tongue) poisonous to cats and dogs?
- For cats it is moderately toxic; for dogs moderately toxic; for people moderately toxic. Cynoglossum species hold pyrrolizidine alkaloids that can harm the liver if eaten, and are a known risk to livestock.
- What grows well with Chinese forget-me-not (Chinese hound’s tongue)?
- There is no well-documented companion pairing for Chinese forget-me-not (Chinese hound’s tongue). Group it with plants that like the same sun (full sun) and water (moderate).
Sources and evidence
Evidence grade A (A: strong evidence).
- Plants of the World Online (taxonomy, native range), Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
- RHS Find a Plant (plant profiles and growing guides), Royal Horticultural Society
- Flora of China, Missouri Botanical Garden & Harvard University Herbaria (eFloras)
- Poisonous plants of North Carolina / Plant Toolbox toxicity, NC State Extension
Notes and assumptions
- A hardy annual: sow where it is to flower in autumn or early spring, thin the seedlings, and let some plants set seed.
- A biennial usually sown as an annual. Sprays of small, intense blue flowers over soft grey-green leaves. The barbed seeds cling to clothes and fur.
Reference values for planning, not horticultural, veterinary or medical advice. Varieties, soils and local climates differ: check with a local nursery or extension service.
Related plants
- Borage Borago officinalis
- Comfrey Symphytum officinale
- Woodland forget-me-not Myosotis sylvatica
- Lungwort (pulmonaria) Pulmonaria officinalis
- Heliotrope Heliotropium arborescens
- Tree echium (giant viper's bugloss) Echium pininana
- Virginia bluebells Mertensia virginica
- Pride of Madeira Echium candicans