Brunnera in the Garden

A spring view of a Brunnera grouping in full bloom.  This perennial also goes by the following names: Brunnera macrophylla, False Forget-Me-Not, Alkenet and Siberian Bugloss.  It is loaded with small flowers of the purest blue.  The flowers are very similar to that of the true Forget-Me-Nots.  The foliage comes up early in the spring and the foliage in and of itself is quite attractive adding some nice contrast and texture to a perennial bed. They begin blooming in May in our zone 6 and can sometime make it to early July.  This plant will tolerate drought and will grow in moist to wet soil but prefers a well drained, loamy soil.  Prefers a ph of neutral.  Part sun, part shade to full shade although the plants tend to be leggier with less blooms in full shade.  Many more cultivars exist.  A very hardy perennial.   I like to use it in large groups, generally as a secondary tiered grouping....one of my favorite perennials.  These garden design projects are located in Warwick, NY.
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