Brunnera macrophylla White Zebra - Siberian Bugloss

Brunnera macrophylla 'White Zebra' is a Great Forget-me-not that stands out for its delicately spotted cream-white foliage, unlike many other varieties that have a dark green veining on a silver-white or cream background. It also charms with its light spring flowers reminiscent of a white forget-me-not.  It is a perennial groundcover that thrives in damp shade, it can be planted under deciduous trees and shrubs and in neglected areas of the garden.  It is also very pretty in pots.

Brunnera macrophylla, also known as Siberian Bugloss, is a perennial belonging to the Boraginaceae family like forget-me-nots and borage. It lives in the forests of eastern Europe and northwestern Asia, in humus-rich soils. It is cultivated for its light flowers that resemble forget-me-nots and its groundcover habit that forms a thick carpet of deciduous foliage. Its above ground vegetation disappears in winter and reappears in spring.

The 'White Zebra' variety develops large dark green leaves, dotted with small oblique cream-white spots that form a heart-shaped pattern. In April-May, numerous small white flowers appear, gathered in light paniculate clusters (in conical clusters). If care is taken to remove this first flowering when it withers, there may be a second bloom in autumn. At maturity, in full bloom, this brunnera will reach 40 cm (16in) in height. The foliage forms a generous mound of large heart-shaped, slightly hairy leaves, with a final length of 20-25 cm (8-10in). The clumps spread slowly through their rhizomatous roots. This plant also self-seeds quite easily, although new plants are not always true to the parent plant. 

Very hardy, at least down to -20°C, the Great Forget-me-not 'White Zebra' is an elegant and robust groundcover.  It can be planted under deciduous trees and shrubs, at the edge of woodland or even on the banks of a pond. Its foliage brightens up shaded areas and is very decorative in pots and shaded flower boxes. It is also a good border plant that works wonders in wild gardens or informal beds of perennials; plant with dead nettles, blue hostas, dark heucheras, bleeding hearts, polychromatic euphorbias or columbines. It pairs well with spring-flowering bulbs, especially with tulips.