Mexican Navelwort: A Rare Texas Native Worth Knowing About
If you’re a native plant enthusiast always on the hunt for something truly special, you might want to learn about Mexican navelwort (Omphalodes aliena). This little-known annual is one of Texas’s more elusive native wildflowers, and while you probably won’t find it at your local nursery, it’s worth understanding what makes this plant so unique.
What is Mexican Navelwort?
Mexican navelwort is a native annual forb that belongs to the borage family. As a forb, it’s an herbaceous plant without woody stems—think of it as a delicate wildflower rather than a shrub or tree. This charming little plant completes its entire life cycle in just one growing season, sprouting from seed, blooming, setting seed, and dying back all within a year.
Where Does It Grow?
Here’s where things get interesting (and a bit concerning): Mexican navelwort is found only in Texas. Its extremely limited distribution makes it one of the state’s more uncommon native plants. This narrow geographic range is part of what makes the species so special—and so vulnerable.
Should You Try to Grow It?
This is where we need to have an honest conversation. While Mexican navelwort would make a fascinating addition to any native Texas garden, its rarity raises some important considerations:
- The plant appears to be extremely uncommon in the wild
- Seeds or plants are virtually impossible to find through commercial sources
- Any cultivation should only be done with responsibly sourced material
- Growing rare natives requires extra care and consideration
If you’re determined to include this species in your garden, please make sure any seeds or plants come from ethical, conservation-minded sources that aren’t depleting wild populations.
Growing Conditions and Care
Since Mexican navelwort is so rarely cultivated, specific growing information is limited. However, based on its native Texas habitat and related species, here’s what we can reasonably expect:
Preferred Conditions:
- Well-draining soil (like most Texas natives, it probably doesn’t appreciate soggy feet)
- Partial shade to full sun
- USDA hardiness zones 8-9, matching its Texas range
- Minimal water once established
Planting and Care Tips:
- As an annual, it will need to reseed itself or be replanted each year
- Direct seeding in fall or early spring would likely work best
- Avoid overwatering—Texas natives generally prefer drier conditions
- Allow plants to go to seed to encourage natural reseeding
Garden Role and Design Ideas
If you could grow Mexican navelwort, it would fit beautifully into:
- Native Texas wildflower gardens
- Naturalized meadow areas
- Rock gardens with well-draining soil
- Collections focused on rare or unusual native plants
The small, delicate flowers typical of the borage family would likely attract small native pollinators, though specific pollinator relationships aren’t well documented for this species.
Better Alternatives for Your Garden
Given the rarity and availability issues with Mexican navelwort, consider these more readily available Texas native alternatives that offer similar benefits:
- Texas bluebonnet (Lupinus texensis) for spring annual color
- Plains coreopsis (Coreopsis tinctoria) for long-blooming annual flowers
- Baby blue eyes (Nemophila phacelioides) for delicate blue blooms
- Texas phlox (Phlox drummondii) for colorful annual groundcover
The Bottom Line
Mexican navelwort represents the fascinating diversity of Texas’s native flora, but its rarity means it’s more of a plant to appreciate and protect than to actively cultivate. If you’re passionate about growing rare Texas natives, focus your energy on supporting conservation efforts and growing the many other beautiful, more available native species that need our help in gardens and landscapes.
Sometimes the best way to honor a rare plant is to give it space to exist in the wild while we celebrate Texas’s incredible botanical diversity through the many other native species we can grow responsibly.
