Brunnera macrophylla Queen of Hearts - Siberian Bugloss

Brunnera macrophylla 'Queen of Hearts' is a cultivar of the Giant Forget-me-not with exceptional ornamental qualities. This variety displays very large, thick leaves, heart-shaped, covered in a silvery hue and finely veined with dark green. A hardy perennial plant, it thrives in damp shade, tolerates light sun, and brightens up in spring with truly blue flowers, as light as those of forget-me-nots, matching perfectly to the silver foliage of the Brunnera. A superb and easy-to-grow groundcover, it can be planted under deciduous trees and bushes, in borders, in pots, or in slightly neglected areas 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 forests in Eastern Europe and Northwestern Asia, in humus-rich soils. It is cultivated for its delicate flowers resembling forget-me-nots and its groundcover habit that forms a thick carpet of deciduous foliage. 'Queen of Hearts' is a recent introduction from the United States, close to the famous variety 'Jack of Diamonds'. In April and May, numerous small, very blue flowers appear in light paniculate clusters. If the first flowering is removed when it fades, there may be a second bloom in autumn. At maturity, this Brunnera reaches a height of 45 cm (18in) and spreads 80 cm (32in) wide. The foliage forms a generous mound of large, heart-shaped, slightly hairy leaves. They can measure up to 20 to 25 cm (8 to 10in) in length. The clumps spread slowly through their rhizomatous roots, but also self-seed quite easily, not always true to the parent plant. The above-ground, deciduous vegetation is absent in winter.

Very hardy, to at least -20°C, the 'Queen of Hearts' Great Forget-me-not is a charming and robust groundcover.  It can be planted under deciduous trees and bushes, on the edge of woodlands or even on the banks of a pond. Its foliage illuminates shady areas and is highly decorative in shaded pots and containers. It is also a good border plant that works wonders in wild gardens or informal perennial beds. Plant it with Lamiums, blue Hostas, purple Heucheras, Bleeding Hearts, Polychrome Spurge, or Columbines. It pairs well with spring-flowering bulbs, particularly tulips.