Omphalodes cappadocica Starry Eyes

Omphalodes cappadocica 'Starry Eyes' is derived from an adorable ground cover plant of fresh woodland called Venus's Navel. This variety 'Starry Eyes' is distinguished by its charming bicoloured flowers, adorned with a porcelain blue star pattern on a white background. This very hardy perennial spreads through stolons, eventually forming a delightful flowering carpet in spring. 

Omphalodes cappadocica 'Starry Eyes' belongs to the borage family, it is a cousin of forget-me-nots and borage. Its wild ancestor is originally from Asia Minor, mainly from wet and shaded areas of Turkey and the Caucasus. It is a herbaceous perennial with deciduous foliage that emerges in spring and disappears in winter. This foliage does not exceed 20 to 25cm (8 to 10in) in height, but the clump spreads laterally through stolons. The erect, slender, unbranched stems bear lanceolate leaves, 5 to 10cm (2 to 4in) long, quite narrow, finely pointed, and light green in colour. The flowering period extends from April to early June. In this 'Starry Eyes' variety, the flowers are white striped with light blue, with a small white eye in the centre. The corollas, measuring 1 to 1.5cm (0 to 1in), are gathered in clusters of 3 to 12 units. 

Omphalodes cappadocica 'Starry Eyes' is a delightful ground cover to be planted in a light and fresh woodland, under deciduous shrubs with light foliage, in humus-rich soil that remains moist even in summer. Plant it in partial shade, for example, in the company of wood or Japanese anemones, wood hyacinths, by placing young plants here and there among clumps of Epimediums. This perennial will fit into a shaded rockery, creating a path among large mossy stones. It is also a lovely plant for bordering a pathway exposed to morning sun. It is one of those perennials that beautify year after year without requiring any maintenance. Its delightful flowering will take over from that of liverworts and fragrant violets that appreciate the same environments.