Brunnera (Siberian Bugloss): Shade-Loving Foliage & Flowers

If you garden in shade or woodland settings, Brunnera deserves a spotlight. Delicate blue spring flowers charm, but the bold, heart-shaped leaves—often dramatically variegated—are the real show. Here's a guide to the best cultivars.

Species Basics

Brunnera macrophylla (sole cultivated species) is native to Eastern European woodlands. Hardy to zone 3, it prefers dappled shade, humus-rich soil, and consistent moisture. Leaves scorch in sun or wind. Spring brings wiry stems with forget-me-not-like blue (rarely white) flowers; foliage expands to a foot across post-bloom, forming effective groundcover. Deer-resistant.

Classic Variegated Cultivars

• 'Variegata' ('Dawson's White'): Wide, irregular white margins.
• 'Hadspen Cream': Narrow yellowish-cream margins.
• 'Langtrees': Silver-spotted margins; parent of modern silver-leaved forms.

Silver-Foliage Stars

• 'Emerald Mist': Improved 'Langtrees' with bold silver spotting.
• 'Silver Wings': Silver spotting across entire leaf.
• 'Jack Frost' (2001): Silver leaves with green veins—sparked the Brunnera craze.
• 'Looking Glass' (2003): Nearly solid silver foliage.
• 'King's Ransom': 'Jack Frost' silver + white leaf margins.

Yellow & Gold Variegation

• 'Spring Yellow': Spring foliage heavily chartreuse-spotted; greens up by summer.
• 'Gold Strike': Irregular yellow streaks and blotches all season—the best yellow form yet.

White-Flowered Forms

• 'Betty Bowring' / 'Marley's White': White-flowered species type.
• 'Mr. Morse': White-flowered 'Jack Frost' sport.

Value & Longevity

New cultivars command high prices initially but drop over time ('Jack Frost' fell from $35 to ~$15). Plants are long-lived and clump quickly—worth the investment.