Brunnera

Brunnera macrophylla – Siberian Bugloss

Brunnera is especially useful for growing in partial or full shade where it provides excellent ground cover. The large heart shaped leaves are very decorative, particularly in the variegated and silvered forms. The cloud of small blue forget-me-nots are delightful in spring. They are on the whole fairly undemanding in their needs, but grow at their very best in a moist leafy soil. They are tolerant of heavy clay soils. Whilst they are definitely cool growers for preference, they grow well in full sun if ample moisture is always available.

The variegated forms can be apt to scorch in sun or wind. It is also a good idea to avoid disturbing  the roots of variegated varieties as this can sometimes encourage green shoots to appear.

Brunnera is a relative of, and not a true forget-me-not. The true Forget-me-nots are classified in the Genus Myosotis, also in the Boraginaceae.

The Forget-me-nots gained their name from the final gesture of a dying knight. The knight was about to part for battle when his true love asked him to gather some blue flowers from beside a lake. He gathered the flowers, but tripped and fell into the water. As he tossed the bunch towards her he bid her to ‘forget-me-not’ before he slipped beneath the surface and drowned.

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