Chatham Islands forget-me-not
Myosotidium hortensia, family Boraginaceae
In its own language: kopukapuka
A large blue-flowered plant from New Zealand’s Chatham Islands
This fleshy herb grows only on the Chatham Islands of New Zealand. It has round, thick leaves and clusters of blue flowers in late spring, and is often grown in gardens; a white-flowered form also exists.
- Endemic to New Zealand’s Chatham Islands
- Called kopukapuka in Māori
- Has a white-flowered cultivar named 'Alba'
- Related to South and North American plants
- Grown widely as a garden ornamental
What does Chatham Islands forget-me-not look like?
Myosotidium hortensia forms a clump of broad, fleshy, nearly round leaves with veins that run parallel. In late spring it sends up flower stalks holding many blue blossoms. A cultivated variety called 'Alba' produces white flowers instead. The plant bears sizable dark seeds edged with wings.
Where does Chatham Islands forget-me-not come from?
This species is found nowhere else in the wild except the Chatham Islands, part of New Zealand. Genetic studies suggest its closest relatives are in the Americas, particularly the South American genus Selkirkia and the North American Mimophytum, though how it reached the islands remains unclear.
When and how Chatham Islands forget-me-not blooms
In its native setting, the plant grows close to the shore, exposed to ocean spray and coastal winds. Gardeners elsewhere cultivate it for its bold foliage and vivid blooms, planting both the natural blue form and the white 'Alba' cultivar.
How Chatham Islands forget-me-not is used
It is widely grown as an ornamental plant in New Zealand gardens and beyond. Its striking appearance makes it a popular choice for home landscapes, though it holds no noted role in ceremonies or traditional practices according to available sources.
Kinds of Chatham Islands forget-me-not
Besides the typical blue-flowered type, the cultivar 'Alba' is commonly grown. This variant carries pure white flowers but otherwise resembles the original in leaf shape, growth habit, and seed structure.
What Chatham Islands forget-me-not means
Known to Māori as kopukapuka, the plant is a distinctive part of the Chatham Islands’ native flora. As a monotypic genus, containing only one species, it represents a unique branch of the borage family and is valued mainly for its garden use rather than symbolic meaning.
Questions people ask about Chatham Islands forget-me-not
Where does the Chatham Islands forget-me-not come from?
It is native only to the Chatham Islands, a group belonging to New Zealand, and grows naturally near coastal areas there.
What does this plant look like?
It has thick, round leaves and produces many blue flowers in late spring. A white-flowered garden variety called 'Alba' is also common.
Is it related to other forget-me-nots?
Despite its name, it is not closely related to true forget-me-nots. Its nearest relatives are South American Selkirkia and North American Mimophytum.
How is it used by people?
It is mainly grown as an ornamental garden plant in New Zealand and other places for its bold leaves and showy flowers.
Does it have any special names?
Yes, in Māori it is called kopukapuka. It is also known as giant forget-me-not or Chatham Islands lily in English.
Good reading and sources
- USDA Plants DatabaseUS Department of Agriculture, Article
- Plants of the World OnlineRoyal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Plant database
- Where it has been recordedGBIF, Plant database
- Sightings and photos by naturalistsiNaturalist, Plant database
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Myosotidium", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). Phool rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.
It may contain mistakes. It is not medical or foraging advice: many flowers are poisonous, and traditional uses are reported, not recommended. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-03.
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