Plant library · Perennial Flowers
Brunnera macrophylla
Siberian bugloss is a low, shade-tolerant perennial that combines blue, forget-me-not-like flowers with broad foliage. At about 15 inches tall and 2 feet wide, it reads as a leafy groundcover rather than a tall border plant. Use it to give a shaded planting bed a settled, continuous layer while spring bloom is in progress.
Place Siberian bugloss along the front or middle of a partially shaded border, at a woodland edge, or beneath the open canopy of shrubs. Its wide foliage softens the line where a bed meets a path, but keep the crown set back far enough that mature leaves do not spill into routine circulation. Group several plants where a connected groundcover effect is useful, leaving taller perennials and shrub stems behind it rather than crowding its broad leaf canopy.[1][2]
Set plants 18 inches apart, center to center. Each clump can reach about 2 feet wide, so this spacing allows neighboring plants to knit into a close leafy cover as they mature rather than remaining as isolated dots. On a path-facing edge, reserve roughly 1 foot beyond the planting line if you want the full foliage mound contained within the bed. In mixed plantings, give each crown clear room at soil level.
Use a partially shaded site with regular moisture and well-drained soil. A cooler, sheltered position helps protect the foliage from hot afternoon sun, which can scorch leaves. Keep the planting within reach of a hose or irrigation zone during dry stretches, especially where tree roots compete for moisture.[1][2]
Blue flower sprays appear from mid to late spring above the developing leaf mound. The foliage then carries the planting through the growing season, so place it where that broad texture can anchor a bed after the flowers fade. Its spring display is most visible when it is not hidden behind early-expanding shrubs or taller perennials.[1][2]
Avoid exposed, hot sites and soil that dries quickly. In hot, humid summer conditions, this perennial may be a less dependable choice, so use a cooler shaded pocket rather than an unprotected foundation bed or sun-facing pavement edge. Slugs and snails can occasionally affect the foliage; allow access for inspection around dense plantings.[1][2]
Editorial content updated 2026-07-20.