Introducing...
Brunnera
Reliable plants for shadier areas of the garden, these low-growing perennials form spreading clumps, and often have attractively marked foliage. Use them as ground cover in cool parts of the garden with other shade-lovers such as periwinkles (Vinca), and hellebores (Helleborus).
Looks
Heart-shaped, thin-textured leaves can have cream edges or be marked or overlaid with silver. Airy sprays of forget-me-not-like, usually light-blue (sometimes white) flowers appear in mid- to late spring. The foliage dies back in winter.
Likes
Brunneras can grow in any ordinary garden soil, including dry soil, and thrive in cool shady areas.
Dislikes
Plants can rot in very heavy, wet soil and can scorch in full sun particularly on dry soil.
Did you know?
Brunneras make a good low-maintenance alternative to hostas in shade gardens, as slug and snail control is unnecessary.
Growing guide
How to grow Brunnera
All the information you'll need to grow and care for Brunnera can be found in the RHS Guide to growing perennials.
Brunnera we recommend
Brunnera macrophylla 'Hadspen Cream' (v)
Siberian bugloss 'Hadspen Cream'
- 0.1–0.5 metres
- 0.5–1 metres
Brunnera macrophylla 'Betty Bowring'
Siberian bugloss 'Betty Bowring'
- 0.1–0.5 metres
- 0.1–0.5 metres
Brunnera macrophylla 'Dawson's White' (v)
Siberian bugloss 'Dawson's White'
- 0.1–0.5 metres
- 0.5–1 metres
Brunnera macrophylla 'Hadspen Cream' (v)
Siberian bugloss 'Hadspen Cream'
- 0.1–0.5 metres
- 0.5–1 metres
Brunnera macrophylla 'Betty Bowring'
Siberian bugloss 'Betty Bowring'
- 0.1–0.5 metres
- 0.1–0.5 metres
Brunnera macrophylla 'Dawson's White' (v)
Siberian bugloss 'Dawson's White'
- 0.1–0.5 metres
- 0.5–1 metres
Useful advice
Perennials: cutting back
Perennials: dividing
Plants for under trees
Shade gardening
Shade planting: annuals, bulbs and perennials
Get involved
The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.