Siberian bugloss (Brunnera macrophylla 'Langtrees')
Brunnera macrophylla 'Langtrees' offers striking variegated foliage and delicate azure flowers. This low-maintenance Siberian bugloss thrives in part shade.
Complete Plant Information
Overview
The Brunnera macrophylla ‘Langtrees’, widely known as Siberian bugloss, is a premier choice for gardeners seeking year-round visual interest in deep shade. This rhizomatous perennial stands out due to its attractive, heart-shaped foliage, which is heavily silvered, contrasting beautifully with its spring blooms. The striking leaves ensure that Brunnera macrophylla ‘Langtrees’ remains a dependable textural element even when not in flower.
Blooming concurrently with the beloved forget-me-nots, the airy sprays of azure blue flowers add a delicate touch to woodland plantings in mid-to-late spring. As an easy-to-grow, tough perennial, Siberian bugloss offers significant aesthetic return for minimal effort, making it a staple in shaded borders and foundation plantings.
Established clumps of Brunnera macrophylla ‘Langtrees’ slowly spread via creeping rhizomes, forming dense, weed-suppressing ground covers that maintain their attractive form throughout the growing season, provided they receive consistent moisture.
Fast Facts
- Plant Family: Boraginaceae
- Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
- Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 3-7
- Size at Maturity:
- Height: 0.75-1.5 ft
- Spread: 0.75-1.5 ft
- Bloom Time: April to May
- Bloom Description: Azure blue
- Sun Exposure: Part shade
- Water Needs: Medium
- Maintenance Level: Low
How to Grow
Plant Brunnera macrophylla ‘Langtrees’ in the spring or fall, ensuring the location provides ample part shade to protect the foliage from direct afternoon sun, which can cause scorching. The soil should be average but consistently moist and well-drained. Incorporate plenty of organic matter, like compost, to enrich the soil, mimicking its native woodland habitat for the best performance of your Siberian bugloss.
Watering should be consistent, aiming for medium moisture levels throughout the active growing season. While this cultivar tolerates some dryness better than others, prolonged drought will stress the plant, especially in hot summers. Fertilizer is rarely necessary if the soil is organically rich; overly rich soil can sometimes promote excessive leaf growth over blooming.
Maintenance for Brunnera macrophylla ‘Langtrees’ is remarkably low. After the foliage has died back naturally in the fall, remove the spent material or leave it to protect the crown over winter. Divide overcrowded clumps in early spring or fall to maintain vigor and share your excellent Siberian bugloss specimens.
Be aware that plants prefer cooler summers; they may struggle in the intense heat and humidity of the deep South (USDA Zones 7-9). Although plants may self-seed, variegated forms like ‘Langtrees’ might revert to all green if seedlings develop, so division is the most reliable propagation method.
Landscape Uses
As a highly versatile ground cover, Brunnera macrophylla ‘Langtrees’ excels in mass plantings beneath mature deciduous trees where sunlight is filtered. Its textural clump-forming habit makes it ideal for softening the edges of woodland gardens or lining the banks of naturalized streams or ponds, where moisture levels are generally higher.
In formal settings, Siberian bugloss can serve as an attractive border plant, providing a bright splash of variegated foliage against darker evergreen shrubs. Variegated cultivars are also excellent when incorporated into containers, especially when paired with complementary shade-loving annuals like impatiens or coleus, though they are best allowed to naturalize.
For effective design, use the bright foliage of Brunnera macrophylla ‘Langtrees’ to contrast with plants featuring fine textures, such as ferns, or deep, solid green foliage. Its low profile ensures it never overwhelms neighboring perennials.
Standout Features
Flower Qualities
- Showy
Noteworthy Characteristics
Brunnera macrophylla, commonly called Siberian bugloss, is primarily grown in shady areas for its attractive heart-shaped, dark green, basal foliage, though ‘Langtrees’ features distinct variegation. Small, blue, forget-me-not-like flowers with white centers bloom in airy, branched racemes rising well above the foliage in spring. The cultivar ‘Langtrees’ was discovered in an ornamental garden in Devon, England, and is beloved for its combination of variegated leaves and tiny, azure blue blossoms.
Tolerances
- Rabbit
Potential Problems
This dependable perennial generally avoids serious insect or disease problems, which contributes to its low maintenance rating. Gardeners should remain watchful for occasional slugs and snails, which find the succulent foliage appealing, especially when conditions are damp. Slugs and snails can be managed using standard bait or beer traps deployed early in the season. Rabbits typically avoid consuming this Siberian bugloss.
Frequently Asked Questions
What hardiness zones is Siberian bugloss suitable for?
Brunnera macrophylla ‘Langtrees’ is reliably hardy across USDA Zones 3 through 7, making it an excellent perennial choice for much of the temperate gardening world.
How large does Siberian bugloss grow?
This herbaceous perennial typically reaches a mature height between 0.75 and 1.5 feet tall, with a similar spread of 0.75 to 1.5 feet, gradually forming clumps through slow rhizome spread.
What sun exposure does Brunnera macrophylla ‘Langtrees’ need?
For optimal foliage and flower production, Brunnera macrophylla ‘Langtrees’ requires part shade. Excessive hot summer sun will frequently cause the attractive leaves to burn or scorch.
When does Siberian bugloss bloom?
The signature azure blue flowers of Brunnera macrophylla ‘Langtrees’ appear in airy sprays during the mid-to-late spring, specifically between April and May.
Conclusion
The striking beauty of the variegated foliage combined with the early, delicate blue flowers makes Brunnera macrophylla ‘Langtrees’ an indispensable feature for shaded landscapes. Its low maintenance profile ensures these qualities are easy to sustain season after season. Before installing, confirm that your site offers the consistent, medium moisture and part shade conditions that this Siberian bugloss variety requires for peak health.
Companion Planting
When selecting partners for Brunnera macrophylla ‘Langtrees’, prioritize plants that share its cultural need for part shade and consistent moisture. Hostas are classic companions, where their different leaf textures and colors create a vibrant tapestry beneath the tree canopy. Ferns, such as Japanese Painted Ferns or Lady Ferns, offer fine, airy textures that beautifully offset the broad, heart-shaped leaves of the Siberian bugloss.
Consider using woodland ephemerals like Trillium or spring-blooming bulbs that will finish their cycle before the heat of summer forces Brunnera macrophylla ‘Langtrees’ to work its hardest. Providing this varied texture ensures continuous interest throughout the growing season in your shade garden.
Propagation Tips
The most straightforward way to propagate Brunnera macrophylla ‘Langtrees’ and maintain its specific variegation is through division of the creeping rhizomes. This is best performed in early spring before new growth actively emerges, or in the early fall after flowering has completed. Gently dig up the clump and carefully separate sections, ensuring each division has several growing points attached.
Plant the divided sections immediately in prepared, moist, organically rich soil at the same depth they were previously growing. Consistent watering for a few weeks after division is critical to encourage rapid establishment of the new Brunnera macrophylla ‘Langtrees’ plants. While self-seeding occurs, it is not recommended for preserving the ‘Langtrees’ characteristics.
