Plant care & info

Family: Boraginaceae

Genus: Brunnera

Common Name: Bugloss, False Forget-Me-Not

The only species in common cultivation, Brunnera macrophylla, is native to Eastern Europe and Russia—including Siberia, hence its common name: Siberian Bugloss. The other two species extend their native range as far southwest as Lebanon. None are native outside Europe and Asia.

Brunnera grows well in morning sun to full shade, in all but the driest of spots. In the hot afternoon sun, it will need moist soil or the leaves will burn. In the shade, occasional water is sufficient. It performs well even in heavy soils, and requires very little to look good all season.

A very hardy and easy to grow perennial, Brunnera requires only occasional water, cutting back in the fall (it is herbaceous) and deadheading at the end of its bloom time in May. Propagation is best done by division and only as needed (older, undivided clumps will have bigger leaves). Brunnera sometimes seeds itself in the garden. Remove seedlings for a tidy appearance, or leave them for an eye-catching mass planting.

Attracts butterflies, hummingbirds and beneficial insects. Deer resistant. Mildly drought tolerant.

Pests and diseases are not generally a concern for Brunnera.

New blooms continue to appear through April and into May while leaves grow big and showy. Through the summer and fall, Brunnera is an attractive foliage plant with big fuzzy leaves of silver or cream (depending on variety).

Not only are Brunnera attractive, but they are also easy and durable. They prefer moist soils, and also tolerate drought. Being a member of the borage family, some varieties may reseed.

The bold, heart shaped leaves lend them to combining well with many plants such as grasses and hellebores. A nearby planting of Dicentra spectabilis ‘Gold Heart’ (Bleeding Heart) will make for a striking combination—the memory of which even summer won’t dispel. A mass of silvery leafed Brunneras can brighten even the darkest of spots, and help draw people into secluded areas.

Brunneras are also compact enough to make good container plants. They can help smooth the transition from winter’s subdued pots to the floriferous annuals of summer, and their silvery foliage blends well with a wide variety of colors.

Explore More Bugloss

Alexander's Great

Brunnera Macrophylla ‘Alexander’s Great’

With its huge silver leaves veined in green, this variety is a hard one to miss in the garden. Classic blue flowers March to May. Grows 14″ tall and 18″wide in zones 4-8.

Hadspen Cream

Brunnera macrophylla ‘Hadspen Cream’

‘Hadspen Cream’ has the usual forget-me-not style blue flowers, plus very large leaves with an irregularly shaped, creamy edge. 12-18″ high x 12-18″ wide, hardy in zones 3-9.

Jack Frost

Brunnera macrophylla ‘Jack Frost’

‘Jack Frost’ has blue flowers in spring, and heart shaped leaves have a vein pattern outlined in silver (very cool!). The amount of silver on the leaves increases as the season goes on. 8-15″h x 8-15″w. Zone 3-9.

Looking Glass

Brunnera macrophylla ‘Looking Glass’

The silver-est of them all, ‘Looking Glass’ leaves are entirely glossy silver, giving the plant a bright, surreal look. Blue flowers spring. Think dusty miller for the shade. 18″h x 15″w. Zones 4-9.