Last spring I visited the gardens at Great Dixter in East Sussex and discovered Navelwort, Omphalodes cappadocica, a low growing perennial with dense mounds of deep green leaves and the most gorgeous sprays of blue flowers, the same colour as forget-me-nots but quite a bit bigger. (Both are members of the family Boraginaceae.) The nursery was selling plants and I now have a specimen growing in my garden.

Omphalodes is happiest in a rich, moist woodland soil, in dappled shade. My soil is rather dry and sandy but I have added compost and grow my Omphalodes in a border that is shaded from late morning. It goes well with Bugle, Wild Garlic, Garlic Mustard, Wood Spurge, Primroses and other woodland flowers.

My variety of Omphalodes is Omphalodes cappadocica “Cherry Ingram” but there is also a variety called “Starry Eyes“, with white-edged flowers, another called “Lilac Mist”  There is also Omphalodes verna, which I don’t think is so attractive. It has a white form, “Alba“.

Omphalodes cappadocica at Great Dixter

Omphalodes cappadocica in my back garden