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Brunnera macrophylla (Siberian Bugloss)

Siberian Bugloss, Heartleaf Brunnera, False Forget-Me-Not

Brunnera Macrophylla, Siberian Bugloss, Heartleaf Brunnera, False Forget-Me-Not, Jack Frost,
Spring Garden, Tulips, Siberian Bugloss, Myosotis, Forget me not
Brunnera macrophylla, commonly known as Siberian Bugloss, is a versatile and beautiful perennial plant. It adds a touch of elegance and charm to any garden and is a favorite among gardeners for its easy care and year-round interest.

What is Siberian Bugloss?

Brunnera macrophylla, known as Siberian bugloss or False Forget-Me-Not, is a rhizomatous herbaceous perennial native to the Caucasus.
  • Habit and Size: Short in stature, it typically grows in a clump to 1-2 feet (30-60 cm)tall and 2-3 feet (60-90 cm) wide, featuring a basal mound of large, dark green leaves, usually with distinctive silver variegation.
  • Foliage: This plant is notable for its stunning heart-shaped, long-stalked leaves and often variegated foliage that adds beauty to the landscape throughout the growing season. The bold and luminous foliage has a rough, hairy texture and can reach up to 6 inches across (15 cm). Evergreen in warm areas, the dense foliage remains attractive during the growing season. Commonly deep green, there is a bevy of new varieties with incredibly colorful foliage. The leaves can display silver markings or frostings or be variegated. Some popular varieties like ‘Jack Frost’ or ‘Looking Glass’ have almost entirely silver leaves.
  • Flowers: From early to mid-spring, sprays of small, bright blue, forget-me-not-like flowers unfurl above the plant for weeks and can last through early summer. Although their blue clouds add cool and striking color to the landscape, Siberian bugloss is mostly valued for its beautiful foliage.
  • Hardiness: Most Brunnera macrophylla plants are winter hardy in USDA zones 3 to 8.
  • Uses: Siberian bugloss is highly versatile and often used in mixed plantings in woodland gardens, shady borders, cottage gardens, or under trees and shrubs. It can also be a beautiful ground cover.
  • Pollinators: The delicate flowers are quite attractive to bees and other pollinators.
  • Deer and Rabbit: This plant is generally not appealing to deer or rabbits.

Guide Information

Hardiness 3 - 8
Heat Zones 1 - 7
Climate Zones 1, 1A, 1B, 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Plant Type Perennials
Genus Brunnera
Exposure Partial Sun, Shade
Season of Interest Spring (Mid, Late), Summer (Early, Mid, Late)
Height 1' - 2' (30cm - 60cm)
Spread 2' - 3' (60cm - 90cm)
Maintenance Low
Water Needs Average
Soil Type Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained
Characteristics Showy
Tolerance Full Shade, Deer, Rabbit
Attracts Bees
Landscaping Ideas Ground Covers, Beds And Borders, Banks And Slopes, Ponds And Streams, Underplanting Roses And Shrubs
Garden Styles City and Courtyard, Informal and Cottage
Brunnera ‘Silver Charm’ (Siberian Bugloss)
Brunnera macrophylla ‘Alexander’s Great’ (Siberian Bugloss)
Brunnera macrophylla ‘Diane’s Gold’ (Siberian Bugloss)

Why Should I Grow Siberian Bugloss?

You should consider growing Siberian Bugloss (Brunnera macrophylla) for several reasons:

  • Impressive Foliage: The stunning heart-shaped, often variegated leaves provide a beautiful tapestry of green and silver hues, adding a touch of elegance to your garden.
  • Attractive Blooms: The clusters of tiny, bright blue, forget-me-not-like flowers that bloom in spring offer a delightful splash of color.
  • Shade Tolerance: It thrives in shaded areas where many plants struggle, making it an excellent choice for those challenging spots in your garden.
  • Low Maintenance: Siberian Bugloss requires minimal care once established. It’s also disease and pest resistant, making it a hassle-free addition to your garden.
  • Wildlife Attraction: The flowers attract bees and other pollinators, promoting biodiversity in your garden.
  • Ground Cover: Its dense growth habit makes it an effective ground cover, suppressing weeds.
  • Deer and Rabbit Resistant: The plant is not appealing to deer or rabbits, making it a good choice for areas where these animals are common.
  • Season-Long Interest: With its attractive foliage and spring flowers, Siberian Bugloss provides interest in the garden throughout the growing season.
Brunnera macrophylla ‘Looking Glass’ (Siberian Bugloss)
Brunnera macrophylla ‘Jack Frost’ (Siberian Bugloss)
Brunnera macrophylla ‘Variegata’ (Siberian Bugloss)

Garden Design with Siberian Bugloss

Designing a garden with Siberian Bugloss offers opportunities to create a tranquil and beautiful shade garden. Here are some ideas:

  • Foliage Focus: Brunnera’s striking variegated foliage is its main attraction, and it stays attractive all season long. Use it as a ground cover under shade-loving shrubs or trees, or plant it in drifts to create a sea of silvery-green foliage that lights up the shade.
  • Woodland Gardens: Brunnera is a natural fit in woodland gardens. Its delicate, sky-blue flowers and heart-shaped leaves work well with ferns, hostas, and other woodland plants. Plant them along a woodland walkway for an enchanting atmosphere.
  • Container Planting: Brunnera’s compact growth habit makes it a great choice for container gardens, where its attractive foliage can be appreciated up close. Combine with other shade-loving plants that contrast or complement its leaf color and shape, such as Heuchera or Begonia.
  • Borders and Edging: Plant Brunnera along the edges of paths or borders in your shade garden. Their silver leaves create a wonderful contrast to darker plants or those with solid green foliage.
  • Waterside Planting: If you have a pond or stream, Brunnera is an excellent choice for waterside planting. It prefers moist soils and can thrive near water bodies, providing a charming view.

Companion Plants

Brunnera pairs well with other shade-tolerant perennials. Here are some good choices:

  • Ferns: Their delicate fronds add a different texture, and their love for shade makes them a perfect match for Brunnera.
  • Hostas: The large, often variegated leaves of Hostas provide a striking contrast to the finer-textured Brunnera. They both thrive in similar conditions.
  • Heuchera (Coral Bells): The variety of Heuchera’s foliage color, from purples to lime green, can contrast beautifully with Brunnera’s silvery leaves.
  • Astilbe: With their feathery plumes and fern-like foliage, Astilbes can add color and texture contrast.
  • Bleeding Hearts (Dicentra): Their unique, heart-shaped flowers and ferny leaves can provide added interest.
  • Lamium (Dead Nettles): These ground cover plants have silver variegated leaves that can complement Brunnera’s foliage and brighten up the shade.
  • Hellebores (Lenten Rose): Blooming in late winter to early spring, Hellebores can provide color when Brunnera is just starting to emerge.
  • Pulmonaria (Lungwort): These plants also have a spring bloom time and can feature silver-speckled leaves that echo the color of Brunnera’s foliage.
  • Solomon’s Seal (Polygonatum): The arching stems with dangling flowers of Solomon’s Seal offer a different form and height in the shade garden.
  • Hydrangea: The shade-loving varieties, their larger flowers, and broader leaves can contrast well with Brunnera.
  • Bergenia: Their glossy, round leaves and spring-blooming pink flowers can add variety and extend the bloom season in a Brunnera-themed planting.

Remember, when choosing companion plants, consider the same light and moisture conditions that Brunnera prefers.

Polygonatum odoratum ‘Variegatum’ (Solomon’s Seal)
Pulmonaria ‘Raspberry Splash’ (Lungwort)
Dicentra (Bleeding Heart)
Aquilegia (Columbine)
Ajuga reptans (Bugleweed)
Hosta (Plantain Lily)
Astilbe
Helleborus (Hellebore)
Hydrangea macrophylla (Bigleaf Hydrangea)

Growing Tips

Siberian Bugloss is a relatively easy plant to grow if you follow some basic care guidelines:

  • Location: Plant your Brunnera in a location with part shade to full shade. While it can tolerate some morning sun, the foliage can scorch in the harsh afternoon sun, particularly in hotter climates.
  • Soil: Brunnera prefers rich, moist, well-draining soil. Improve your soil with compost or other organic matter to enhance its fertility and moisture-holding capacity.
  • Watering: This plant prefers consistently moist soil. Water regularly, especially during dry spells, but avoid waterlogged conditions as this can lead to root rot.
  • Mulching: Apply a layer of organic mulch around your plants to help retain soil moisture and keep the roots cool.
  • Feeding: Feed your Brunnera in early spring with a balanced slow-release fertilizer or well-rotted compost.
  • Dividing: Brunnera is a slowly spreading, clump-forming perennial. It can be divided in early spring or autumn if the clumps become too large or if you wish to propagate new plants.
  • Pruning: Deadhead spent flowers to promote additional blooming. After the first frost in the autumn, you can cut back the foliage to the ground.
  • Pests/Diseases: Watch out for slugs and snails, which can be a problem for Brunnera. Protect your plants with natural or commercial slug deterrents. Botrytis, fusarium, root rot may occasionally attack Siberian bugloss.
  • Overwintering: In colder regions, apply a protective layer of mulch in the fall to protect the roots during winter.

With these tips, you should be able to enjoy the beautiful heart-shaped leaves and sky-blue flowers of Brunnera macrophylla in your garden for many years.

 

Garden Examples

A Pretty Spring Border Idea with Corsican Hellebore and Siberian Bugloss
A Pretty Spring Border Idea with Hellebore, Siberian Bugloss and Grasses
Irresistible Spring Mix: Tulips, Siberian Bugloss, Cypress Spurge
Compare All Brunnera (Siberian Bugloss)
Compare Now
Explore Great Plant Combination Ideas
Brunnera (Siberian Bugloss)
While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.

Guide Information

Hardiness 3 - 8
Heat Zones 1 - 7
Climate Zones 1, 1A, 1B, 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Plant Type Perennials
Genus Brunnera
Exposure Partial Sun, Shade
Season of Interest Spring (Mid, Late), Summer (Early, Mid, Late)
Height 1' - 2' (30cm - 60cm)
Spread 2' - 3' (60cm - 90cm)
Maintenance Low
Water Needs Average
Soil Type Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained
Characteristics Showy
Tolerance Full Shade, Deer, Rabbit
Attracts Bees
Landscaping Ideas Ground Covers, Beds And Borders, Banks And Slopes, Ponds And Streams, Underplanting Roses And Shrubs
Garden Styles City and Courtyard, Informal and Cottage
Compare All Brunnera (Siberian Bugloss)
Compare Now
Explore Great Plant Combination Ideas
Brunnera (Siberian Bugloss)

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