1 named cultivar

‘Starry Eyes’Starry Eyes Navelwort

perennial

Navelwort

The Story

Plant Bio

Omphalodes cappadocica, navelwort, is a slowly spreading perennial from Asia Minor, six to nine inches high and spreading to a foot. Heart-shaped, softly hairy leaves form a low mound, above which sprays of small bright blue flowers with white eyes open from May to June, closely resembling forget-me-nots but on a longer-lived plant.

It gives the forget-me-not effect without the self-seeding, since it spreads slowly by rhizome and stays a defined clump rather than colonising a bed. It also tolerates dry shade and heavy shade once established, which makes it one of the more useful blue-flowered plants for the difficult ground under trees.

Uses & Benefits:

Sprays of bright white-eyed blue flowers over heart-shaped foliage through late spring.

A long-lived clump-former that gives forget-me-not colour without any self-seeding.

Late spring flowers give bees an accessible nectar source in shaded parts of the garden.

Essentials

At a Glance

Plant Type

Perennial

Height

6 inches

Width

12 inches

Light

Partial Sun, Shade

Zones

6, 7, 8

Water

Medium

Humidity

Average

Lifespan

Perennial

Native To

Asia Minor

Toxicity

Non-toxic

Planting

How to Grow

Plant in spring or early autumn in part to full shade.
Choose humus-rich, moist but free-draining soil.
Set the crown level with the surrounding soil.
Water through the first season while it establishes.
Remove spent flower stems after blooming.
Divide congested clumps every few years.

Pro Tip

It gives you forget-me-not blue without the seedlings, so treat it as a permanent clump rather than something to renew each year.

Keep It Thriving

Care Guide

Do

Grow it in part to full shade 🌳
Give it humus-rich, free-draining soil 🍂
Divide congested clumps every few years ✂️
Use it for blue in dry shade 💙

Don't

Plant it in full sun ❌
Let it sit in waterlogged ground ❌
Expect it to seed around like forget-me-not ❌

Seasonal Care Calendar

Task	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Divide
Tidy

Watch Out For

Pests & Diseases

Common Pests

Common Diseases

In the Garden

Landscape Uses & Companions

Landscape Uses

Ground cover for moist or dry shadeWoodland garden and shaded border massingEdging along a shaded path

Companion Plants

Hellebore EpimediumJapanese Painted Fern HostaFoamflower

Multiply

Propagation Methods

Good to Know

Common Questions

Navelwort questions

What zones can Navelwort grow in?

Navelwort is hardy in USDA Zones 6–8. Inside that range it survives winter in the ground; outside it, grow it as an annual or a container plant you protect.

Is Navelwort deer resistant?

Yes — Navelwort is rated deer-resistant. Deer typically pass it over, though extreme hunger can override any plant's defenses.

When does Navelwort bloom?

Navelwort typically blooms in late spring to early summer through mid-spring. Exact timing shifts a week or two with your zone — Sow's bloom calendar maps it to your garden.

Does Navelwort need full sun?

Navelwort does best in part shade.