Brunnera (Brunnera macrophylla)

Brunnera Plant Features

Brighten the dark corners of your garden with brunnera. This charming, shade-loving perennial sports gorgeous, heart-shaped leaves that are often variegated with silver. Brunnera, once called false forget-me-not, develops clusters of pure sky-blue flowers in the early spring, making it an ideal companion for flowering bulbs such as tulips and narcissus or other early perennial bloomers such as bleeding heart. The plants grow 12 to 18 inches tall. Hardy from zones 3 to 8.

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Brunnera Growing Instructions

In the garden, brunnera grows best in part shade and soil that's rich in organic matter; it will appreciate it if you amend the soil with plenty of compost before planting. Brunnera doesn't like to dry out; keep it watered well in times of drought otherwise the leaves may develop unsightly brown edges. 

When brunnera is happiest, it self seeds in the garden, producing lots of baby plants -- but rarely to the point of becoming weedy. The hairy leaves are somewhat deer and rabbit resistant, too. 

By midsummer, older leaves may start to look ragged. Clip them away to stimulate a new crop of foliage.

Note: Brunnera is not intended for human or animal consumption.

  • Water

    Moist

  • Light

    Outside: Shade

  • Colors

    Green

    Silver

  • Special Features

    Colorful foliage

    Deer/rabbit resistant

Complement your Brunnera

Lamium
Thriving in partial and deep shade, lamium looks lovely planted in the same bed as brunnera.

Bleeding Heart
Bleeding heart's pink, pendulous spring flowers are especially beautiful next to the silver foliage of brunnera.

Hosta
Brunnera looks great with almost any hosta, but is especially showy paired with chartreuse or blue-leaved varieties.