Omphalodes Navelwort, Blue-Eyed Mary

Omphalodes, commonly known as Navelwort or Blue-eyed Mary, is a fascinating carpeting plant that thrives in shady areas. Its blue flowers, which appear early in the season, create a beautiful display above the evergreen foliage. What makes Navelwort unique is its ability to flourish and flower in the limited range of reliable carpeting plants suitable for shade under trees and shrubs. To cultivate Navelwort successfully, it is important to provide the right growing conditions. This plant prefers moisture-retentive garden soil, enriched with humus. When planting, consider adding peat, compost, or leaf mould to improve the soil quality. Mulching around the stems in spring helps retain moisture and supports the plant's growth. In terms of propagation, Navelwort can be divided in spring, except for the O. missouriensis variety, which requires sowing seeds under glass during the same season. Additionally, there are different varieties of Navelwort worth exploring. O. cappadocica produces graceful sprays of all-blue flowers, while O. verna displays blue blooms with prominent white centers. The latter variety is lower-growing and faster-growing, making it an excellent choice for quickly covering a patch of ground. If you are looking to add a reliable and visually appealing carpeting plant to your shade garden, Navelwort is certainly worth considering. Its ability to thrive in shady conditions and its captivating blue flowers make it a delightful addition to any landscape.