Brunnera: another great shade plant

Brunnera macrophylla flowers tucked in amongst the dafs

Brunnera is another terrific shade plant.  The first sign of Brunnera macrophylla in the spring is the Forget-Me-Not like blue flowers rising from the earth.  If the Brunnera is planted with bulbs, like the photo to the left, the delicate blue flowers provide a lovely contrast to large Daffodil heads.

Brunnera macrophylla 'Jack Frost'

Once the flowers have emerged, heart shaped leaves develop and grow.  The more recent varieties of Brunnera have interesting variegation in the leaves, from lightly variegated, to the entire leaf being white or silver.  I prefer the contrast of green veins, so I stick with B.c. 'Jack   Frost.'

Brunnera can tolerate full shade and part shade, but don't let them dry out.  Their leaves will be margined with brown, which does not complement the silver.