Siberian bugloss, is a herbaceous perennial that forms clumps and spreads by creeping rhizomes making it an excellent ground cover for shady areas. In addition to its spreading habit, it displays heart-shaped, dark green, foliage and small, forget-me-not-like flowers of light blue with yellow centers. The flowers bloom in the spring on stems that rise 18 inches tall, above the foliage, which results in a dense thicket of foliage supporting flower stalks holding the flower above. The mound of showy, variegated foliage remains attractive throughout the growing season. The plant grows well in average, medium moisture, well-drained soil in part shade, preferring consistently moist, organically rich soil. While it does not tolerate dry soils, it will forgive some dryness. Plants prefer cool summers and foliage may scorch in the hot sun and humid summer conditions of USDA Zones 7-9. Plants may self-seed, but seedlings of this variegated form can lose that variegation. 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. More information on Brunnera macrophylla .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
High Organic Matter
Soil drainage
Good Drainage
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 6 in. | Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 6 in.
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (1-3 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Clumping
Leaf color
Green; Variegated
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf shape
Elliptical
Leaf feel
Rough
Leaf value
Showy
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
Heart-shaped, dark green, basal foliage. Basal leaves form a mound which remains attractive throughout the growing season.
Flower color
Blue
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Raceme
Flower detail
Small flowers bloom blue petals in spring (April to May). While the petals are blue, the center of the flowers is yellow. Blooms rise above the foliage on 18 inch stems.