Venus's Navelwort Iberodes linifolia
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Cynoglossum linifolium
- Omphalodes kuzinskyanae
- Omphalodes linifolia
- Phonetic Spelling
- EYE-ber-oh-deez lin-ih-FOH-lee-ah
- Description
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Navelwort is a drought-tolerant, flowering annual, native to Southwestern Europe. It has dainty white flowers, a branching habit, and blue-green leaves and is found in dry open areas. It is a small plant, maturing about a year after planting to about 16 inches tall and 6 inches wide. The plant is known under a several genus, Iberodes, Cynoglossum, and Omphalodes. The more common genus name, Iberodes, refers to the plant's Iberian native home. The species name is Latin for “with leaves like flax".
Plant in moist, well-drained soil and full sun. It tolerates sandy and clay soils and prefers a cool climate, but works well in xeriscapes. It is an annual, but naturalizes and self-seeds easily and tends to come back in the same area each year. It does not take well to transplanting. The plant is bushy, but can be pruned to shape after flowering is complete.
Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems:
No known diseases. Slugs and snails can be a problem.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Iberodes
- Species:
- linifolia
- Family:
- Boraginaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- France, Spain, and Portugal
- Distribution:
- The Black Sea region, Northern Africa, Labrador, Ontario, and Washington state.
- Wildlife Value:
- Flowers attract bees and butterflies.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 4 in.
- Width: 0 ft. 4 in. - 0 ft. 6 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Annual
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Multi-stemmed
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Low
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- Less than 12 inches
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Good Cut
- Long Bloom Season
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Description:
- Dainty white or off-white flowers, slightly fragrant, have a long bloom season through the Spring and Summer.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Blue
- Green
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Description:
- Narrow, blue-green foliage, slightly hairy.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Container
- Small Space
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Cottage Garden
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Fairy Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
