Brunnera 'Jack Frost'

Brunnera macrophylla 'Jack Frost': A Woodland Classic in Silver and Green

Elegant and enduring, Brunnera 'Jack Frost' is a shade garden favourite known for its heart-shaped silver leaves etched with green veining—offering a luminous, frosted look that brightens even the darkest corners. In spring, delicate sky-blue forget-me-not flowers dance above the foliage, adding a soft, ephemeral layer to its strong visual presence. With a tidy, mounding habit and excellent texture, this deer-resistant perennial performs reliably through the seasons, even in dry shade once established.

Plant Characteristics:

• Height: 30–40 cm
• Spread: 45–60 cm, forming a dense, mounded clump
• Flower Colour: Bright sky blue
• Flowering Period: Mid to late spring
• Foliage: Silver with prominent green veining; heart-shaped and textured
• Sunlight Requirements: Part shade to full shade
• Soil Requirements: Moist, humus-rich, well-drained soil; tolerant of dry shade once established

Uses and Benefits: Brunnera 'Jack Frost' is ideal for adding contrast and brightness to shaded borders, woodland edges, and underplantings beneath shrubs and trees. Its bold foliage pairs beautifully with fine-textured plants, offering structure and light-reflective qualities that carry from spring through frost. An excellent groundcover or specimen in shaded gardens, it also tolerates urban conditions and is not favoured by deer.

Companion Plants: Combine with the glossy, deep green leaves of Asarum europaeum, the airy fronds of Adiantum pedatum, and the golden-striped arching blades of Hakonechloa macra 'Aureola' for a refined, texture-rich shade garden that glows with elegance and contrast.

Care Instructions: Plant in part to full shade in consistently moist, well-drained soil. Mulch to retain soil moisture and protect roots. Cut back damaged foliage in spring before new growth emerges. Divide every 3–4 years in early spring to maintain vigour and clump density.

History: Introduced by Terra Nova Nurseries, 'Jack Frost' quickly became one of the most awarded and widely admired Brunnera cultivars. Its unique silver veining, strong performance, and outstanding foliage colour earned it the prestigious Perennial Plant of the Year award in 2012.

Final Thoughts: With shimmering leaves and spring’s softest blue, Brunnera 'Jack Frost' brings quiet brilliance to the shaded garden—an essential anchor for foliage-focused designs that never fade into the background.