Omphalodes

Family. Boraginaceae.

Origin. Central and Southern Europe.

Description. Omphalodes is a herbaceous, perennial, evergreen plant that forms a neat rosette of leaves. It has green, ovate or lanceolate leaves up to 3 cm long, covered with fine hairs. The inflorescences are small - they bear from 3 to 5 flowers of blue, blue, white or pink, each with a diameter of 0.7 to 1.5 cm. Varieties with flowers of 2 shades have been bred - for example, blue with white edges. The plant is easily confused with forget-me-not.

Height. 20 - 30 centimeters in height.

Care at home

Temperature conditions

Tolerates a wide range of temperatures, including frost, and the above-ground portion of the plant will die back and growth will resume from underground buds. 

Lighting

Shade the omphalodes in the midday heat; direct sunlight can fall on the leaf blades in the morning and evening. It tolerates partial shade well.

Substrate

Excellent drainage is a mandatory requirement for the substrate. The soil should be loose and contain organic matter in the form of leaf humus and peat, moderately nutritious. 

Feeding

During the growing season, 2 times a month. Excess nutrients in the soil leads to an abundant growth of green mass to the detriment of flowering.

Purpose

A very pretty plant that looks very neat at any time. 

Flowering time

Blooms in April - June. 

Air humidity

No special requirements. You can spray in the morning if the air has become too dry.

Soil moisture

Adult specimens have some drought resistance, while young seedlings need regular watering. In autumn and winter, watering is reduced, preventing moisture stagnation in the tray.

Transplant

Try to replant only when necessary - when the root system fills the pot and the tips of the roots look out of the drainage holes. Omphalodes can hardly tolerate frequent transplants - it is better to use transshipment together with a lump of earth. 

Reproduction

It is easily propagated by seeds and often self-seeding can be found under mature plants. Seeds are sown in late winter or early spring, after preliminary cool stratification and covered with a very thin layer of soil. The germination period takes from 4 weeks to several months. It can be propagated by rhizome cuttings. Large specimens can be divided into several parts in early spring during transplantation.

Pests and diseases

Harmful insects usually avoid the plant.