Brunnera macrophylla Jack of Diamonds - Siberian Bugloss

Brunnera macrophylla 'Jack of Diamonds' is a giant version of the famous cultivar 'Jack Frost'. This Great Forget-me-not has particularly large leaves, measuring up to 25 cm (10in) long at maturity. It is a cultivar with exceptional ornamental qualities. Its beautiful, very bright leaves, are heart-shaped and a medium green shade covered with a silvery hue.  They are finely veined with dark green. The plant is adorned in spring with truly blue flowers, as light as those of forget-me-nots, perfectly matching the silvery foliage. Without a doubt, it is a plant that attracts attention and creates a dramatic effect in a shade or semi-shade bed. A superb groundcover to be planted under trees and deciduous shrubs, in a bed, in a pot, or in a slightly neglected area of the garden.

Brunnera macrophylla, also known as Siberian Bugloss, is a perennial belonging to the Boraginaceae family, like forget-me-nots and borage. It grows in the forests of Eastern Europe and Northwestern Asia, on humus-rich soils. It is grown for its light blue flowers reminiscent of forget-me-nots and its groundcover habit, forming a thick carpet from spring to autumn.  'Jack of Diamonds' is a recent introduction from the United States. Its foliage is very oval, silver, veined with green, and marked with cream white. It forms a mound of overlapping leaves, giving a very circular impression to the plant. At maturity, this Brunnera reaches 40 cm (16in) in height and spreads over 75 cm (30in). In April and May, numerous small, very blue flowers appear in light panicles (in conical clusters). If care is taken to remove this first bloom when it fades, there may be a second bloom in autumn. The clumps spread slowly through their rhizomatous roots, but also self-seed quite easily, although the new plants are not always true to the mother plant. The deciduous vegetation dries up in winter.

Very hardy, to -20°C (1°F), the Great forget-me-not 'Jack of Diamonds' is a charming and robust groundcover, to be planted under deciduous trees and shrubs, on the edge of a woodland, or even on the banks of a pond. Its foliage illuminates dark areas and is very decorative in pots and shaded flower beds. It is also a good border plant that works wonders in wild gardens or fairly informal perennial beds. Plant it with Lamiums, blue Hostas, Purple Heucheras, Bleeding Hearts, Polychrome Spurge, or Columbines. It pairs well with spring-flowering bulbs, especially tulips.