Brunnera

( BRUNN - er - uh )

At-A-Glance Information

Commonly called Bugloss, this genus includes perennial flowering plant species that thrive in full sun in cool climates and filtered shade to shade in all others. These plants need regular water and have large, showy leaves, making them great for planting under large trees and shrubs. Flowers bloom in loose clusters, and provide a great show in spring and summer. These are great for planting in shady spaces of the garden or in woodland landscapes, and are great at adding interest to these areas due to their decorative, sometimes variegated foliage. Add Brunnera to shady beds and borders to provide foliage contrast.

Brunnera Species and Varietals

The genus Brunnera is a member of the plant family Boraginaceae, and includes just three species. Only one species, Brunnera macrophylla, is widely grown as a garden ornamental. These plants grow in USDA hardiness zones 3-9 or Sunset growing zones 1-24. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.

Brunnera macrophylla (Siberian Bugloss)
Loose clusters of blue flowers with yellow centers sprout in spring through summer. These plants will self-sow if left to their own devices, so they are great for open areas under larger plants. Clumps can be divided in fall and replanted. Individual plants typically reach between 12-18 inches tall and about as wide.

'Dawson's White'
With heart-shaped green leaves that have irregular creamy margins.

'Diane's Gold'
Gold-chartreuse foliage.

'Hadspen Cream'
Similar to Dawson's White, but with light yellow-cream margins.

'Langtrees'
Has white marks in a line close to each leaf edge.

'Jack Frost'
Silver leaves veined with green. Icy blue flowers.

'Looking Glass'
Nearly white leaves, great for lightening up dark corners of the garden.

'Mister Morse'
The white-flowering version of 'Jack Frost'.

'Silver Spear'
Bright white variegated foliage and light blue flowers.

Caring for Brunnera

Plant Brunnera in a space in the garden that has adequate room for a spreading plant. Bugloss spreads via underground creeping rhizome roots and also reseeds freely. Plant in full shade to partial shade; ideally, they should be receiving indirect light, filtered light, or sun for about 4 hours each day. Provide protection from the sun's rays during the warmest hours of the day (typically in the afternoon). Too much sun can cause leaves to get sunburned. Ensure that soil is well-draining and moderately fertile before planting. If local soils are particularly poor in nutrients or do not drain well, make sure to amend the planting area with organic compost before installing. Brunnera plants prefer a soil pH of between 6.0 and 8.0. In cooler months, watering can be greatly lessened; overwatering in the wintertime is one of the main causes of root rot issues. After planting, mulch around the base of the plant with organic mulching material to help retain soil moisture and suppress weed growth. Keep mulch away from the plant stems, as this can encourage an environment for root rot issues to take hold.

Brunnera are not heavy feeders, but to boost foliage and bloom during the active growing months, a dressing of organic compost can be applied each year in springtime. Prune off spent flower spikes as they fade, and remove any dead, damaged, or diseased foliage. Severely damaged plants can be completely cut back for rejuvenation; this will trigger a flush of new growth to emerge. Cut off pure green leaves on variegated cultivars so the color change doesn't take over the entire plant. Every two to three years, Brunnera should be lifted and divided. This is best done in early spring or fall, and will encourage the healthiest possible plants to form. For more information on dividing these plants, see the Propagation section below.

Propagation

Brunnera can be propagated either by division or from seed. To ensure that your propagated plant will have the exact same qualities and characteristics as the parent plant, use the division method. If you would like to experiment and see what plant you can grow from seed, just keep in mind that it will not necessarily be the same as the parent plant; variegated cultivars typically produce seeds with pure green leaves. To propagate your Siberian Bugloss, follow the instructions below:

Propagating Brunnera by Seed

Keep in mind that the plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant. To propagate by seed, you will need a paper bag, a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. The best potting medium for seed germination is a light blend of 1/3 pasteurized soil or compost, 1/3 sand, vermiculite or perlite, and 1/3 coconut coir or peat moss.
Harvest your seeds. The seed heads, or schizocarps, on plants are pretty easy to spot, they're left behind after flowers have faded. Once they have dried out and begun to split open, you can harvest the seeds inside. Cut them off of the plant, placing them in a paper bag. Harvest as many as you can, and place the paper bag in a dry, cool, dark area. They will continue to split open and release the seeds contained inside. Once they have been released, take them out of the bag and put them in a container so you can work with them.
In either late winter or early springtime, get your container prepared. Water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place your seeds in your prepared pot or seed tray about a quarter inch to a half-inch under the soil surface. Cover them with soil and water with your spray bottle. Place your tray of seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Germination usually takes 2-6 weeks from sowing. Once you begin to see seedlings sprout and they are able to be handled, transplant them to their own individual 3-inch pots, filled with the same potting medium as described in Step 1. Loosen the seedlings from the potting medium by digging down with the tines of your fork about an inch and a half, gently working the seedling up until it is out. Then, replant the seedling in its individual pot.
Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 65 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when you can transplant it to its new home.

Propagating Brunnera by Division
This type of propagation is relatively simple; you will need a clean shovel, mulch, fresh soil, compost and pots (only necessary if you will be saving divided plants for transporting elsewhere). Division is best done in very early spring (after the plant has entered dormancy, but before it has begun its new spring growth), and needs to be done every few years regardless of whether you have the goal of propagating the plants for best performance. To propagate by division, follow these steps:

Using a shovel, dig up your existing plant. Start from the outside and work your way in to avoid damaging the rhizome(s). Once you have worked it up out of the ground, lay it out.
Start to tease apart the roots with your gloved fingers. Once the roots are untangled, separate your plant into segments, ensuring that each one has at least one thick rhizome section attached.
Prepare your pot(s) or new planting site(s) with amended, well-draining soil. You can either bring in new soil or simply amend your existing soil with compost to complete this task. Then, plant your divided rhizomes about an inch under the soil surface and water thoroughly.
Apply a thick layer of mulch over the new planting to protect it from cold weather as it acclimates to its new home.