How to Grow Brunnera (False Forget-Me-Not)

Botanical illustration of Brunnera (False Forget-Me-Not)

Brunnera lights dark corners with foliage that looks frosted — big heart-shaped leaves overlaid in silver that gleam in shade all season long. In spring it adds a floating haze of tiny, true-blue forget-me-not flowers, one of the loveliest pairings the shade garden offers.

Deer and rabbits pass it over, and its foot-tall silver mounds are the refined company hostas and ferns have been waiting for, brightening the composition without stealing it. Where a shaded bed reads as a wall of plain green, tuck in brunnera and watch the light change.

Where to buy brunnera (false forget-me-not) — 3 nurseries compared

Part Shade to Shade
Moderate water
Slow-Moderate growth
Deer-resistant
Attracts bees

Brunnera (False Forget-Me-Not) — a print from the Plant Library collection

From the print shop

Growing brunnera (false forget-me-not)? Hang it.

Our Plant Library collection carries brunnera (false forget-me-not) — Brunnera macrophylla, print Nº 74, “Brunnera (False Forget-Me-Not).”

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Will it thrive where you are?

Enter your ZIP — we look up your USDA hardiness zone (2023 map) and check it against what brunnera (false forget-me-not) actually needs.

Hardy inZones 3-8

Brunnera (False Forget-Me-Not) · Common problems

Common brunnera (false forget-me-not) problems

Pests, diseases and weather to keep an eye on.

Pests

1 problem on file

Almost none — deer- and rabbit-resistant

Diseases

1 problem on file

Leaf scorch from dry soil or too much sun

Brunnera (False Forget-Me-Not) · Growing & propagation

Growing brunnera (false forget-me-not)

Light, water, soil, propagation and the season’s jobs.

What it needsThe details

Light: Part Shade to Shade
Water: Moderate, even
Leaves scorch if dry
Soil: Rich, moist, humusy · pH 6.0 - 7.0
Fertilizer: Light spring compost
Pruning: Spring cleanup
Remove scorched or tired leaves; deadhead if you like. The silver-leaved types are the main draw.
Spacing: 15-18 in

How to plant & propagate brunnera (false forget-me-not)

Propagate: Division or seed

Brunnera (False Forget-Me-Not) · Seasonal care & spray guidance

The brunnera (false forget-me-not) growing playbook

Field-tested instructions for every job brunnera (false forget-me-not) asks of you, compiled from university extension guidance — in the order the season brings them.

When to spray brunnera (false forget-me-not)

Growing season. Keep it moist and shaded.

Timing only — the label is the law

This is when to watch and when a treatment is worth considering, not a recommendation to apply any product. Read and follow the product label before you spray — under federal law the label is the legal instruction, and using a pesticide against it is illegal.

Check the pre-harvest interval. Every product that’s cleared for an edible crop sets a minimum number of days between spraying and picking. Find it on the label before you spray anything you intend to eat.
Check the re-entry interval before you or anyone else works in the treated area again, and use the protective equipment the label names.
Confirm the product is registered for brunnera (false forget-me-not) in your state. A product legal on one crop is not legal on all of them, and state registrations differ — your state pesticide agency or local extension office can confirm both.
Rates and mixing instructions come from the label, never from us. We don’t publish them because they differ by product and formulation.

Brunnera (False Forget-Me-Not) · Calculators & field guides

A little help in the garden.

Calculators for the figures. Field guides for the hands-on work.

Brunnera (False Forget-Me-Not) · Yearly calendar

The brunnera (false forget-me-not) year, month by month

What brunnera (false forget-me-not) asks for, month by month.

Jan

No calendar activity is listed for this month.

MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Bloom

Prune

BloomMarch to May

PruneMarch to May

What each band means

Bloom — flowers open — pollinators working, frost on blossoms is the danger.
Prune — shape it now — cuts heal cleanly and structure is visible.

These are the species' typical months — expect them a few weeks earlier in warm zones and later in cold ones. Watch the plant, not just the calendar.

Brunnera (False Forget-Me-Not) · Ecology & uses

Ecology & uses

What it does for the garden, and what it is grown for.

Brunnera macrophylla

Brunnera (False Forget-Me-Not) in the garden system

Herbaceous layer perennial
Nectary/insectary

Attracts: Bees
Habitat: Woodland
Moisture: Upland / dry
Deer: Resistant
A safer unfenced choice
Origin: Introduced

What brunnera (false forget-me-not) is grown for

✓ Not known to be toxic

Use: Silver shade foliage
Use: Deer-resistant
Use: Spring blue

Edibility, identification, and traditional-use notes here are general reference — not medical or veterinary advice, and not a claim that any plant treats or prevents anything. Medicinal ratings record how strongly a plant features in herbal tradition, nothing more. Never eat or dose a plant you have not positively identified. More on how to use this library.

Brunnera (False Forget-Me-Not) · Varieties & cultivars

Choosing a brunnera (false forget-me-not) variety

Match the plant to your climate, season and available space.

'Jack Frost' (frosted silver leaves — the standard); 'Looking Glass' (nearly all-silver); 'Alexander's Great'

Sources & plant identity

Know what you’re growing.
See where the knowledge comes from.

The plant, at a glance.

Botanical name: Brunnera macrophylla
Plant family: Boraginaceae
Growth habit: Perennial
Origin: Introduced
USDA plant symbol: BRMA11
Invasive risk: Low

Every garden is different.

Hardiness, size and timing vary with your cultivar, soil and climate.

Rooted in research.

University extension research, brought together with hands-on growing experience at Story Thyme Farms.

Explore the source library

Questions

Brunnera (False Forget-Me-Not) questions, answered straight.

Do deer eat brunnera (false forget-me-not)?

Rarely — brunnera (false forget-me-not) is considered deer-resistant, which makes it one of the safer unfenced choices in deer country. Hungry deer in a hard winter test every rule, but it's a low-risk pick.

Is brunnera (false forget-me-not) safe for kids and pets?

Brunnera (False Forget-Me-Not) is commonly eaten and isn't considered toxic, but "commonly eaten" isn't a guarantee for any particular person or animal — allergies, quantity, and which part you eat all matter. Never eat a plant you haven't positively identified, and check with a vet before letting pets or livestock graze anything new.

How do you propagate brunnera (false forget-me-not)?

Division or seed.

Elsewhere

Where brunnera (false forget-me-not) sits in the library.

Where brunnera (false forget-me-not) sits in the library

Deer-resistant plants57 All collections

Grows in the same world