Brunnera
Brunnera is a flower in the Boraginaceae family. It grows best in part shade to shade with medium moisture, and is listed for USDA zones 3-8.
Varieties
1 · sorted by days to maturity▸Brunnera
PROPAGATION CATEGORY: Perennial (division) (not in original seed catalog). Use: Airy blue forget-me-not flowers; heart-shaped (often silvered) leaves.
Brunnera (Brunnera macrophylla) is a shade perennial with sprays of tiny blue forget-me-not flowers in spring above bold heart-shaped leaves, many cultivars with silver variegation.
Growing notes: Botanical name: Brunnera macrophylla|Hardiness zones: 3-8|Propagation: division|Light: Part shade to shade|Water: Medium|Mature size: 1-1.5 feet
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Growing timeline
Care & troubleshooting— extension-sourced, with citations
When to feed, prune & water
Attract beneficial insects and protect pollinators
Protection- Routine carePlant insectary flowers and tolerate light pestsstrong evidence — extension confidence
Grow a diversity of flowering plants (including small-flowered umbels and asters) to feed predators and parasitoids, and tolerate low pest numbers so natural enemies have prey to stick around.
- Routine careNever spray open bloomsstrong evidence — extension confidence
Avoid insecticides on flowering plants and apply any needed sprays in the evening when pollinators aren't active, and favor selective products over broad-spectrum ones to spare bees and beneficials.
Something looks wrong?
Describe what you see on your brunneraand we'll rank the likely causes — most likely first, least-invasive fix first.
Powdery mildew
Diseasemoderate- CulturalImprove airflow + remove worst leavesstrong evidence — extension confidence
Cut out the most heavily coated leaves and thin for airflow; avoid wetting foliage late in the day.
- OrganicPotassium-bicarbonate or sulfur - label use only· every 1 wk · ~4 wksmoderate evidence — extension confidence
Apply a labeled potassium-bicarbonate or sulfur fungicide weekly per the label. No sulfur within 2 weeks of oil or in high heat.
Aphids
Pestlow- CulturalBlast off with water· every 3 days · ~2 wksstrong evidence — extension confidence
Knock colonies off with a strong jet of water in the morning; repeat every few days. Light infestations rarely need more.
- OrganicInsecticidal soap - label use only· every 1 wk · ~3 wksmoderate evidence — extension confidence
For persistent colonies apply insecticidal soap to undersides per label. Avoid open flowers.