Description
Omphalodes verna
Blue Eyed Mary. Much more of a creeper than its cousin, cappadocica and earlier to start flowering in the year. Omphalodes verna will spread quite freely in any cool leafy soil that is not too wet producing a wide mat of rich green foliage dotted here and there with intensely blue flowers. Longer in flower than cappadocica but not as showy at any one time. A lovely creeping species form Eastern Europe. Grows best in bright shade in humus rich soil, but relatively adaptable.
Navelwort – Omphalodes
Omphalodes are the navelworts, a name that doesn’t really inspire you with the beauty which they posses. I don’t now if common or botanical name came first, but the latter derives from the Greek for ‘Navel-like’ a reference to the shape of the seeds. With the most penetrating blue flowers and lovely leaves as well to describe you often have to think that some botanists lack a soul. Marie Antoinette was obviously a better judge as she counted them amongst her favourites.
Omphalodes are all species for a cool leafy soil where there is good drainage. The come from light woodland habitats in Europe across into Asia.
Omphalodes are members of the Boraginaceae, along with such bedfellows as the Lungworts, Comfrey, Borage and the Siberian Bugloss, Brunnera. The genus was once larger than it is today, but species from North America and Japan have now been split off into separate genera of their own.
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