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Iberodes linifolia

Venus's Navelwort

Family BoraginaceaeGenus Iberodes

A small white flower with notched petals at the top of a slender hairy stem, above gray-green leaves flushed purple beneath.
FlowerKrzysztof Ziarnek, KenraizCC BY-SA 4.0

About the plant

What it is and where it grows — not part of any germination protocol.

The plant

Habit
AnnualExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Habit
annualPlants of the World Online
Height
1-1.3 ft30-40 cmExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Spread
4-6 in10-15 cmExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Flower
WhiteExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Blooms
Fall, Spring, SummerExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Native range
France, Portugal, SpainGBIF Backbone Taxonomy
Hardiness zones
1-11Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Growing conditions

Sun
Full sun; Partial ShadeExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil
Clay, Loam (Silt), SandExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0), Alkaline (>8.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0)Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Moisture
Good Drainage, Moist, Occasionally WetExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.

Sources: Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — NC State Extension; Plants of the World Online — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — Global Biodiversity Information Facility.

Worth knowing

  • Venus's navelwort, formerly Omphalodes linifolia, is a small annual from Iberia and western France with blue-green leaves and tiny white flowers. It has gone wild elsewhere in Europe, in North Africa, North America and Chile. Wikipedia: Iberodes linifolia

This source reports two treatments. Both are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1998

Difficulty Low Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around April 1, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 4 days to germinate.

100% germination in 2–4 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1998 · 2nd Supplement, Omphalodes p. 51Public domain
Show the original text
Omphalodes (Boraginaceae). Four species had germ. 100% on 4th d in 70D (1 st Suppl.). O. linifolia germ. 70D(100% in 2-4 d) when fresh and 73% after 2 y DS. O. linifolia alba germ. 70D(100% in 2-4 d) either fresh or after 2 y DS.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement, 2nd Supplement, Omphalodes p. 51. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 2

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1998

Difficulty Low Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around April 2, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on April 1, 2025.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 730 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

about 2 years from start to sowing. Then 4 days to germinate.

100% germination in 2–4 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1998 · 2nd Supplement, Omphalodes p. 51Public domain
Show the original text
Omphalodes (Boraginaceae). Four species had germ. 100% on 4th d in 70D (1 st Suppl.). O. linifolia germ. 70D(100% in 2-4 d) when fresh and 73% after 2 y DS. O. linifolia alba germ. 70D(100% in 2-4 d) either fresh or after 2 y DS.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement, 2nd Supplement, Omphalodes p. 51. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

How each step is done, in Deno’s words, and what Verified and Derived mean.

Germination trials

Readers’ own records of sowing this species, published after review. Share your trial · All trials

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