Brunnera macrophylla Starry Eyes - Siberian Bugloss

Brunnera macrophylla 'Starry Eyes' is a new Caucasian Forget-me-not with unusual and eye-catching flowers: its small flowers are 6-petaled white stars edged with bright gentian blue that seem to shine in the twilight. They appear in spring, light but smaller than those of forget-me-nots, towering over large heart-shaped green leaves. It is a reliable deciduous perennial groundcover that thrives in cool or even dry shade. It eventually forms a superb groundcover, to be planted under deciduous trees and shrubs and in slightly neglected areas of the garden.

The Brunnera macrophylla, also known as Siberian bugloss, is a rhizomatous perennial belonging to the Boraginaceae family, just like forget-me-nots and borage. It grows in forests in Eastern Europe and Northwestern Asia, in humus-rich soils. It is grown for its delicate flowers that resemble forget-me-nots and its groundcover habit that forms a thick carpet of deciduous foliage.

The 'Starry Eyes' variety is a recent introduction obtained by Chris Ghyselen in Belgium. In April-May, numerous small flowers with a curious bicoloured appearance appear in light panicles (conical-shaped clusters). If the first flowering is carefully removed when it fades, there may be a second flowering in autumn. At maturity, this brunnera will reach a height of 30-35 cm (12-14in) when in bloom. The foliage forms a generous mound of large heart-shaped leaves, slightly hairy, rough, with a final size of 12 to 14 cm (5 to 6in) in length. The clumps spread slowly through their rhizomatous roots.

Very hardy, to -20°C (1°F), the 'Starry Eyes' Giant forget-me-not is a vibrant, unique and robust groundcover, which can be planted under deciduous trees and shrubs, on the edge of a woodland or even on the banks of a pond. Its flowers bring life to darker areas, and the whole plant is very decorative in shaded pots and containers. It is also a good border plant that works wonders in wild gardens or informal perennial beds; combine it with dead nettles, blue hostas, purple heucheras, bleeding hearts, variegated spurge, or columbines. It pairs well with spring-flowering bulbs, especially tulips.