How to Planting and Care for a Brunnera Macrophylla Jack Frost

How to Care for a Brunnera Macrophylla

How to Planting and Care for a Brunnera

Handsome and undemanding, Brunnera macrophylla jack frost (syn. Anchusa myosotidiflora) bears sprays of azure blue or white flowers from early spring to late May. This well-behaved, versatile perennial thrives in moist, humusy soils and under and around shrubs.

The silver- or white-accented heart-shaped leaves of many new cultivars brighten woodland shadows. Unlike older varieties, which are prone to leaf scorching, newer ones, such as ‘Jack Frost’, can tolerate direct sun in the morning or late afternoon.

Originally classified as Anchusa, perennial brunnera plant – also known as false, perennial or great forget-me-not-is also unflatteringly called Siberian bugloss, a name that comes from the Greek words for ox’s tongue, referring to its oval-shaped, rough-textured leaf. The plant was first collected during the Caucasian Expedition of Russian Count Apollos Mussin-Pushkin in 1800. Zones 2 to 3.

Care of Brunnera Macrophylla checklist

– Brunnera macrophylla Jack frost is happiest in a shady, cool, consistently moist woodland setting; avoid hot, dry conditions

– Prefers well-drained, rich, humusy soil; tolerates other soils if it’s kept cool and moist

– Generally well behaved but may self-seed; propagate mature plants every five to 10 years by root division in the fall; newer cultivars with fancy silver foliage are challenging to propagate

Perfect Partners for Brunnera Macrophylla

Versatile Brunnera macrophylla Plant complements a host of shade-loving perennials.

Brunnera macrophylla jack frost has many uses and combines well with other shade-loving plants. Its shimmery silver foliage looks attractive reflected in a still pond and brightens any gloomy spot, even beneath hemlock. Along the edge of a border or woodland stream, brunnera plant is a good accent plant; used en masse it makes an ideal groundcover. It’s also spectacular when placed in front of larger perennials such as ‘Krossa Regal’ hosta, as it retains its colorful foliage, even after the first frosts have turned the hosta leaves to mush. In the mildest Canadian climates, some Brunnera macrophylla keep their evergreen or semi-evergreen foliage throughout the winter

Hart’s Tongue Fern

(Asplenium scolopendrium syn. Phyllitis scolopendrium)

HEIGHT 30 to 40 cm

SPREAD 30 to 45 cm

DESCRIPTION wide, leathery green, strap-shaped fronds; clump-forming, slow-growing

DESIGN ADVANTAGE its sturdy, luxuriant, shiny, dark green fronds contrast well with the softer heart-shaped leaves of Brunnera jack frost Zone 4

‘Merlin’ Purple Barrenwort

(Epimedium x youngianum ‘Merlin’)

HEIGHT 20 to 30 cm

SPREAD 30 to 45 cm

DESCRIPTION semi-evergreen; new foliage flushed with bronze; bushy, clump-forming, slow-growing, long-lived

DESIGN ADVANTAGE delicate sprays of dusky mauve flowers bloom at the same time as Brunnera macrophylla in mid- to late spring; excellent edger or groundcover Zone 4

‘Iron Butterfly’ Foamflower

(Tiarella ‘Iron Butterfly’)

HEIGHT 20 to 40 cm

SPREAD 25 to 30 cm

DESCRIPTION clump-forming hybrid with deeply cut, dark green leaves with attractive black markings; small, bottle-brush, white flowers held atop wiry stems

DESIGN ADVANTAGE its darkly accented cut-leaf foliage makes a handsome counterpoint to the silvery markings of many Brunnera macrophylla jack frost cultivars Zone 4

‘Miyazaki’ Japanese Toad Lily

(Tricyrtis hirta ‘Miyazaki’)

HEIGHT & SPREAD 45 to 60 cm DESCRIPTION small, unusual, orchid-like, purple-blotched white flowers in late summer and early fall; clump-forming

DESIGN ADVANTAGE this upright late-bloomer complements low-mounding, spring-flowering brunnera; plant where its flowers can be seen up close Zone 4

Brunnera Macrophylla Jack frost Plant Varieties

Name: BRUNNERA MACROPHYLLA ‘Betty Bowring’ (syn. ‘Alba’) ZONE 3

Height x Width: 45 to 60 cm x 60 cm

Exposure: Part to full shade

Description: Small white flowers; dark green foliage

Comments: Dark foliage makes it more sun-tolerant than other cultivars

Name: ‘DAWSON’S WHITE’ ZONE 2

Height x Width: 30 to 40 cm x 30 to 45 cm

Exposure: Part to full shade

Description: Azure blue flowers; variable white variegated foliage with creamy-white margins

Comments: Prune out plain green reversions; slow-growing; resistant to foliage browning

Name: ‘HADSPEN CREAM’ ZONE 2

Height x Width: 30 to 40 cm x 30 to 45 cm

Exposure: Part to full shade; protect from direct sun

Description: Bright blue flowers; dark green foliage with broad cream to yellow margins

Comments: Foliage remains attractive all season; slug-resistant

Name: ‘JACK FROST’ ZONE 2

Height x Width: 30 to 45 cm x 30 to 45 cm

Exposure: Part to full shade; tolerates some direct sun

Description: Blue flowers; frosted foliage with silvery overlay and greenish veins have crackly look

Comments: Provide evenly moist soil to optimize wow factor

Name: ‘LANGTREES‘ (syn. ‘Aluminum Spot’) ZONE 2

Height x Width: 30 to 45 cm x 30 to 45 cm

Exposure: Part to full shade; protect from the direct, midday sun

Description: Tiny blue forget-me-not blooms; emerald green foliage mottled with silver-grey; markings more subtle than other cultivars

Comments: None

Name: ‘LOOKING GLASS’ ZONE 3

Height x Width: 30 to 40 cm x 30 to 45 cm

Exposure: Part to full shade

Description: Bright blue flowers; silver-frosted, heart-shaped leaves

Comments: Sport of ‘Jack Frost’; a silver jewel for shade

Name: ‘SILVER WINGS’ ZONE 3

Height x Width: 30 to 45 cm x 30 to 45 cm

Exposure: Part to full shade

Description: Tiny masses of blue flowers; marbled foliage with a wispy, silvery overlay

Comments: Sport of ‘Langtrees’

Name: ‘VARIEGATA’ ZONE 2

Height x Width: 35 to 45 cm x 35 to 45 cm

Exposure: Part to full shade

Description: Bright blue blooms; wide, irregular, creamy white margins on grey-green leaves

Comments: Protect from wind and drought to avoid foliage browning; remove green reversions.





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