Brunnera

Sun

Partial shade is best. Tolerates full shade, though flowering may decrease; gentle morning sun is suitable where the soil stays moist. Avoid hot afternoon sun.

Water

Keep the soil evenly moist but not waterlogged. Water during dry spells, especially in the first growing season; prolonged drought can scorch the leaves or cause early dormancy.

Soil

Humus-rich, moisture-retentive soil with good drainage. Tolerates clay if it does not remain waterlogged; suitable for acidic, neutral or mildly alkaline soil.

Height

1-1.5 ft (0.3-0.45 m)

Spread

1.5-2 ft (0.45-0.6 m)

Flowers

Small sky-blue flowers with pale centres in loose sprays in mid- to late spring.

Foliage

Broad, rough-textured, heart-shaped green leaves, becoming larger after flowering. Many cultivars have silver markings or largely silver leaves with green veins.

Growth

Moderate; forms a substantial clump over several growing seasons.

Care needed

Low

• Water deeply during dry weather rather than allowing the root zone to dry out completely.
• Apply a thin layer of garden compost in spring; additional fertiliser is usually unnecessary.
• Mulch with leaf mould or compost to conserve moisture, keeping the crown uncovered.
• Divide crowded clumps in early spring or early autumn, and water divisions until established.
• Remove spent flower stems before seed ripens if you do not want seedlings.

Pruning. Cut spent flower stems back to the foliage after flowering. Remove dead leaves in late autumn or late winter, and trim scorched leaves during summer without cutting away healthy growth.

Late winter

Clear away collapsed leaves before new shoots emerge.

Early spring

Plant or divide clumps, then water well and apply compost or leaf mould.

Late spring

Cut off faded flower stems if you want to prevent self-seeding.

Summer

Check soil moisture during dry spells and water before leaves wilt or scorch.

Early autumn

Plant or divide in mild conditions, allowing time for roots to establish before winter.

• Plant in drifts beneath deciduous trees where spring light gives way to summer shade, provided the soil is not too dry.
• Edge shaded paths with repeated clumps for a low band of heart-shaped foliage.
• Combine with ferns, hostas and hellebores for contrasting leaf shapes through spring and summer.
• Use silver-leaved cultivars to brighten shaded courtyards and the front of woodland borders.

Garden styles it suits: Woodland, English country, Cottage garden, Blues and silvers, Low-maintenance and Pacific Northwest woodland.

Plant it with: Hostas, Hellebores, Japanese painted ferns, Lungwort, Astilbes and Epimediums.

Wildlife: Spring flowers provide nectar and pollen for visiting bees and other insects. The foliage also offers low cover for small garden animals.

• Leaf scorch: brown, crisp edges usually indicate hot sun or dry soil. Improve shade, mulch and water deeply; damaged leaves will not recover.
• Slugs and snails: young leaves may develop holes. Hand-pick after dark, remove nearby hiding places and use labelled iron-phosphate bait if necessary.
• Crown or root rot: persistent wetness can cause yellowing and collapse. Improve drainage, keep mulch off the crown and replace badly rotted plants.

Not known to be toxic to cats, dogs, horses or people; no part is recognised as a significant poisoning hazard. It is not an edible plant, and eating plant material may still cause stomach upset.

• Wood forget-me-not (Myosotis sylvatica)

  Has similar small blue flowers but much smaller, narrower leaves rather than Brunnera's broad, heart-shaped foliage; it is usually grown as a biennial or short-lived perennial.

• Creeping forget-me-not (Omphalodes verna)

  Makes a low, spreading carpet through creeping shoots, with smaller leaves and relatively larger blue flowers. Brunnera forms upright clumps with large, rough leaves.

Brunnera honours the Swiss botanist Samuel Brunner, while macrophylla means large-leaved.

Propagation. Divide established clumps in early spring or early autumn. The species can also be raised from seed and may self-seed in moist soil; seedlings from named cultivars may not retain the parent's leaf markings.

Accepted botanical name

Brunnera macrophylla

In the US and Canada

Introduced in the lower 48 states.

Native range

North Caucasus, Transcaucasus and Turkey.

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0), USDA PLANTS and Trefle (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.