Brunnera is a fantastic plant for dry shade. It is a robust genus, needs minimal attention and is able to withstand conditions that would cause many other perennials to give up. However, it still has its preferences and isn't entirely indestructible!

Positioning

Brunnera is naturally a woodland plant, so the best thing you can do for it is to emulate its natural environment.

Grow in dry shade and fertile soil. Use a leafy compost as it would naturally have under the trees.

A different plant for different seasons
Remember that Brunnera has different personas in the garden at different times of the season.

In the spring, it is a dainty, airy plant with small foliage and sprays of tiny flowers. However, once the flowering period is over the plants become large and dense as the leaves become quite huge. Don't under-estimate the amount of space you should allow!

Water

While Brunnera is best suited to dry shade and is pretty tolerant of drought, extremely dry conditions still aren't good for it. It will need watering if there are prolonged periods of drought.

If your Brunnera appears damaged after a long, dry summer, don't dispair as it will almost certainly recover during winter dormancy to emerge as beautiful as ever the following spring.

The worst thing you can do for your Brunnera is to let it get too wet.

Your tips

Do you have any special hints and tips for growing Brunnera? E-mail Darwin PlantSpotters and share them with your fello Brunnera fans.