Brunnera 'Silver Heart'

Brunnera 'Silver Heart': Silver Leaves, Lights Always On

'Silver Heart' is the friend who never forgets your birthday. Thick, rounded leaves heavily silvered and edged in green, plus deep blue flowers in spring. RELIABLE, SHINY, ZERO FLAKINESS.

Plant Characteristics:

• Botanical Name: Brunnera macrophylla 'Silver Heart'
• Common Name: Siberian Bugloss
• Height: 30 cm (12 in)
• Spread: 45–60 cm (18–24 in)
• Flowers: Sprays of tiny, forget-me-not-style deep blue flowers
• Bloom Time: Mid to late spring (April to May)
• Foliage: Large, thick, rounded heart-shaped leaves, heavily silvered with thin green veins and margins
• Features: Rabbit resistant, more resistant to sun scorch than older silver cultivars

Where to Plant: Use it to light up the front of a shade border, line a woodland path, or carpet the ground in a shady bed. A few plants repeated along a bed read clearly from across the yard. It's especially handy in a bed that gets a bit more summer warmth than ideal.

Companion Plants: Plant 'Silver Heart' in a moist, shady bed with dark leaves and lavender plumes to follow its spring blue. Heuchera 'Midnight Rose' adds dark purple leaves splashed with pink at 25 cm. Hosta 'Dancing Queen' brings bright gold, wavy leaves at 45 cm. Astilbe 'Heart and Soul' adds lavender-pink plumes at 75 cm from July to September. Carex 'Blue Zinger' edges the front with arching steel-blue blades at 30 to 45 cm.

Plant Care: Plant it in part shade to full shade, sheltered from strong afternoon sun. It prefers rich, moist, well-drained soil with plenty of organic matter. Add compost to heavy clay or sandy soil. Keep it watered in dry spells, especially during its first summer. Snip off the flower stems once blooming ends to keep the foliage looking clean. Tidy away any damaged leaves in fall or early spring. Division is rarely needed, but clumps can be split in early spring.

History: 'Silver Heart' was discovered in 2010 by Peter Jan Willemsen in the Netherlands as a natural sport of Brunnera 'Silver Lace', alongside its sibling 'Sea Heart'. Both were chosen for their large, strong leaves and resistance to sun scorch.

Final Thoughts: It shrugs off more sun than older silver types, and deer and rabbits won't bother it. GOLD IS OVERRATED.