Featured
Plant Profile
Spring Plant Pick 2009

Brunnera Macrophylla,

                   ‘Jack Frost’

Blooms are bountiful this time of year, as the Cherries, Daffodils and Magnolias have begun to unfurl their timely blossoms. Every gardener alive seems poised with confidence as the promise of a new growing season beckons their call. But if you’re like me and you’re looking for an addition to that shady nook in your garden where nothing seems to do that well, than the graceful blue flowers of ‘Jack Frost’ Brunnera Macrophylla could be the perfect choice for you this spring.

Developed in 2001 by Walters Garden in Zeeland Michigan, ‘Jack Frost’ Brunnera is a beautiful clump-forming low-maintenance perennial. The graceful silver frosted heart-shaped leaves open in early spring with mint green leaf edges and veins. The texture of the foliage alone would make this plant a worthy addition to any shade garden. From mid to late spring clumps of light blue flowers with yellow centers on 12-15” tall stems float effortlessly above the finely textured silver leaves. The tiny blue flowers closely resemble Forget-Me-Not and persist on the plant for three to four weeks.

It prefers a part-shade setting with average water requirements and a relatively neutral soil high in organic matter. Leaves do have a tendency to burn a little if it’s placed in a site to hot or dry. Disease and insect problems are limited to occasional slug or aphid damage that can be easily managed. ‘Jack Frost’ is deer resistant, and matures to a height of 12-15” and a spread of 18”. It looks stunning massed as a groundcover or inter-planted with Daffodils, purple-leafed Heucheras, Cinnamon Fern, or ‘King of Hearts’ Bleeding Heart.

- James McLoughlin

Also see: Winter 2010 The Himalayan Sweetbox  Winter 2009 The Common Winterberry   Spring 2008 Yoshino Cherry  Summer 2009 Geranium ‘Rozanne’  Fall 2009 - the Itea Virginica ‘Little Henry’

NOFA accredited organic
landcare professional.

Rooted in tradition since 1975

Rooted in tradition since 1975