Omphalodes cappadocica (Cappadocian navelwort)

Japanese name: オンファロデス カッパドキカ
Scientific name: Omphalodes cappadocica

[Overview]
An evergreen perennial 15–25 cm tall, with a plant spread of 40 cm.
It spreads by extending rhizomes.
The leaves consist of basal leaves and stem leaves; the basal leaves are ovate to lanceolate, 7.5–12 cm long, with pointed tips and heart-shaped bases, hairy, with sunken veins and long petioles.
The leaves on the stem are simple, alternate and almost stalkless.
A raceme at the stem tip bears sparse pale bluish purple flowers shaped like an umebachi (plum-blossom crest), about 0.7–1.5 cm across.
The flower has a white eye in the center and five white veins radiating outward from the center.
The fruit consists of 4 nutlets.

[Cultivation]
Propagate from seed or by division.
Sow in autumn as a rule.
It prefers fertile, well-drained soil in bright partial shade.
It dislikes summer heat and strong direct sun, so when planting in the ground it is good to plant it under deciduous trees or similar.
Water when the soil surface begins to dry.
If it dries out, the leaves drop or it fails to flower, but if it is too wet, the roots rot.
Apply slow-release fertilizer at planting, and also place slow-release fertilizer on the soil in spring and autumn.
If you are not collecting seed, cut the flower stalks off at the base after flowering has finished.
Pests and diseases include aphids and slugs.

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