Growing Guide
 
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Heartleaf Brunnera

Herbaceous Perennial Flower

Also known as Siberian Bugloss , False Forget Me Not
Brunnera macrophylla
Boraginaceae Family
Synonym: Anchusa myosotidiflora

Perfect for moist woodland settings, dainty intensely blue flowers rise above heart shaped, dark green leaves on this spring-blooming perennial.

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Site Characteristics
Sunlight:
  • part shade
  • full shade

Soil conditions:

  • requires well-drained soil
  • tolerates damp soil
Prefers rich soil that is kept moist but not soggy.

Hardiness zones:

  • 3 to 8
Does poorly in warmer end of range without moisture and shade.
Plant Traits

Lifecycle: perennial

Ease-of-care: easy

Height: 1 to 1.5 feet

Spread: 1 to 2 feet

Bloom time:

  • mid-spring
  • late spring

Flower color: blue

Foliage color: dark green

Foliage texture: medium

Shape: cushion, mound or clump

Shape in flower: flower stalks with upright spikes

Delicate blooms borne in sprays above the foliage.

Special Considerations
Special characteristics:
  • non-aggressive - Prolific self-seeder in moist sites, but seedlings seldom go far and are easily removed.
  • non-invasive
  • not native to North America - Native to Siberia, Eastern Mediterranean
Growing Information
How to plant:

Propagate by seed, division or separation - Cultivars must be propagated by division, as they do not come true from seed.

Plants self-seed prolifically but are easy to control. Plant seeds in summer and transplant in fall.

Divide in early spring. Take 3- to 4-inch root cuttings when plants are dormant and root in containers overwinter.

Maintenance and care:
Keep soil moist but not soggy.

Deadhead to prevent reseeding.

If foliage deteriorates in summer, cut to ground to encourage a new flush of growth.

Divide in spring. Division required only every 6 to 10 years.

More growing information: How to Grow Perennials

Pests:
Slugs
Varieties
‘Hadspen Cream’ has pale green leaves bordered with creamy white markings. Does not tolerate afternoon sun well.

‘Langtrees’ has deep green leafes with silvery dots.

‘Variegata’ ('Dawson's White') has leaves with wide creamy white borders, prefers moist shade, and will not tolerate sun or drought.