Brunnera plants and species such as Brunnera macrophylla and B. macrophylla ‘Variegata’ are popular shade flowering plants well suited to a woodland situation, also commonly known as Siberian Bugloss and False Forget Me Not..
Characterised by blue flowers held above the foliage in spring. These plants are an excellent addition to a shady position where they will form a clump of around 50cm wide.
These great foliage plants work well with other shade loving plants such as Hostas, they are lower growing that many other shade plants and make an interesting border plant when grown along a pathway.
Best planted in clumps for a mass display of foliage from spring through summer to late autumn. Avoid a position where they are subject to hot afternoon sun
Varieties
- Cultivars such as Brunnera macrophylla ‘Jack Frost’ are grown for the foliage as well as the dainty flowers.
- ‘Dawsons White’ has a creamy white leaf margin with a distinctive mid to deep green centre.
- B . ‘Hadspen Cream’ is similar to above, but with a more delicate look to it. Pale green foliage with lovely creamy margins
- B. ‘Langtrees has heart shaped foliage splashed with a silvery white pattern near the leaf margins.
- B. Seaheart
- Brunnera ‘Alexander the Great’ – Larger Foliage than Jack Frost.
- Bunnera Alexandria – A new release with eye stopping foliage. Very pale veins and silvery green leaves. Excellent for adding a bright lift in the shade garden.
Care
We have found that these are very easy care plants for semi shade. They will spread to form a good clump over time, however they are certainly not invasive in our garden. They will die back in winter, however as spring comes around the foliage provides great color right through until autumn.
They do grow best in a humus rich soil amended with plenty of well rotted compost and a little aged cow or sheep manure works wonders.
In warmer seasons Brunnera seem to maintain foliage almost year round, in colder winters they tend to go dormant.
Summary
- Position – Excellent shade plants
- Soil – Humus rich moist soil, well drained.
- Water – Water during hot dry spells (although we have not needed to)
- Propagation – easy by division in early spring
Brunnera macrophylla are available for sale from the following growers and nurseries
Large variety of Epimediums, Woodland plants and Herbaceous perennials
Mail order or nursery. We do not send to Tasmania or WA
www.cloverhillrareplants.com
www.planterspatch.com.au
PO Box 7040 Leura NSW 2780
Rare woodland plants, Trilliums Epimediums, Arisaemas, plus much more.www.lynnsrareplants.com.au