Siberian bugloss Brunnera macrophylla
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Siberian bugloss:
Previously known as:
- Anchusa myosotidiflora
- Phonetic Spelling
- BRUN-neh-rah mak-roh-FIL-ah
- Description
-
Siberian bugloss is a perennial in the Borginaceae (borage) family. This plant is a clumping, mounding plant that will spread slowly by rhizomes and seeding. The large heart-shaped leaves and showy blue spring flowers make it a good shade groundcover. Some cultivars have variegated leaves. It will reach up to 18 inches high and spread 2.5 feet wide.
This plant prefers part shade to shade with protection from the afternoon sun in fertile moist well-drained soils. Mulching helps keep the soil cooler and retains moisture. It does best in areas with cooler nights and is not recommended for the southeast. Use this plant in the shade or woodland garden in the border or as a groundcover. It is also deer and rabbit resistant, probably due to the rough texture of the leaves.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious problems. Slugs and snails are occasional visitors.
VIDEO created by Andy Pulte for “Landscape Plant Identification, Taxonomy and Morphology” a plant identification course offered by the Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Juniper Level Botanic Gardens: Front Shade Garden
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Alchemy Silver'
showy silver foliage and great crown count.
'Alexander's Great'
- 'Jack Frost'
Variegated leaves
- 'Alchemy Silver'
- 'Alchemy Silver', 'Alexander's Great', 'Jack Frost'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Alchemy Silver'
showy silver foliage and great crown count.
'Alexander's Great'
- 'Jack Frost'
Variegated leaves
- 'Alchemy Silver'
- 'Alchemy Silver', 'Alexander's Great', 'Jack Frost'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Brunnera
- Species:
- macrophylla
- Family:
- Boraginaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Turkey, North Caucasus, Transcaucus
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Deer and rabbit resistant
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 6 in. - 2 ft. 6 in.
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-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Perennial
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Mounding
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Medium
-
-
Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
-
-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Blue
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Cup
- Saucer
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Small blue flowers with 5 petals and white centers resemble Forget-Me-not flowers. They occur in clusters on stems held above the plant in April-May.
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-
Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Rough
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Long-lasting
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Cordate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Heart-shaped leaves with a rough texture, impressed venation, up to 6 inches long. Some cultivars have variegated leaves. They grow in clumps
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-
Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
-
-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Shade Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Small groups
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Rabbits
