Starry Eyes navelwort is a creeping evergreen perennial from Turkey that brings delicate charm to shaded garden corners where many plants struggle. This cultivar of Omphalodes cappadocica grows just 6-9 inches tall but spreads to 12 inches wide via creeping rhizomes, creating a soft carpet of heart-shaped, slightly hairy leaves topped by loose racemes of showy flowers in May and June. Hardy in zones 6-9, it tolerates dry shade and drought with remarkable resilience, making it exceptional for problem areas where soil stays consistently dry. The flowers are excellent for cutting, adding an unexpected grace to arrangements.
Partial Shade
Moderate
6-9
9in H x 12in W
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Moderate
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Starry Eyes produces loose terminal racemes of showy flowers that rise above a dense basal clump of heart-shaped foliage in late spring. The plant's evergreen nature means it provides year-round structure and texture, even in the depths of winter. Its ability to thrive in heavy shade and drought, combined with its creeping rhizomatous spread, makes it a genuinely practical choice for colonizing difficult ground without constant fussing.
Starry Eyes navelwort serves primarily as a ground cover in shaded gardens and woodland settings. Its creeping growth habit and tolerance for dry shade make it valuable for naturalizing beneath trees or in difficult sites where conventional perennials falter. The showy flowers and evergreen foliage provide ornamental value throughout the growing season, and the blooms are sturdy enough for cutting arrangements.
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Transplant hardened seedlings or container plants to the garden in spring after the danger of hard frost has passed. Space plants 9-12 inches apart to allow room for their mature spread. Enrich the planting site with fertile soil and ensure good drainage to prevent root rot.
Starry Eyes requires minimal pruning. In late winter or early spring, remove any dead or damaged foliage to encourage fresh growth. Deadheading spent flower stems after June bloom extends the plant's ornamental appearance, though this is optional.
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“Omphalodes cappadocica originates from Turkey, where it grows naturally in woodland conditions. The Starry Eyes cultivar represents a selection of this wild species, chosen for ornamental display in garden settings. Its common names, Cappadocian navelwort and creeping-forget-me-not, reflect both its geographic origin and its resemblance to forget-me-nots, though it belongs to the borage family rather than myosotis.”