Perennial of the Polemoniaceae family, this ancient cultivar of Phlox subulata originates from the North American species naturally found on rocky outcrops and dry slopes of the eastern United States. 'Oakington Blue Eyes' is a long-standing cultivar in European collections, regularly mentioned by the RHS and British alpine plant societies.
It forms a spreading, low cushion, 10 to 15 cm in height when in bloom, with a looser habit than some other cultivars of the species. The linear-subulate, medium green, evergreen leaves are less tightly packed than in more compact cultivars, giving the plant a slightly airy appearance, noticeable outside of flowering.
The flowers are a very pale bluish lilac, almost white in full light, with a small, well-defined central eye, orange to reddish-brown, which justifies the cultivar's name and constitutes its most distinctive feature. The petals are narrow and distinctly notched, giving each flower a more cut-out star-like silhouette than cultivars with broader petals. The hue varies significantly depending on exposure, ranging from lavender-blue to a slightly tinted white.
In its natural habitat, the species blooms from April to June. In cultivation, 'Oakington Blue Eyes' generally blooms in April-May. It requires full sun, well-drained soil, and does not tolerate stagnant moisture in winter.