Siberian bugloss / false forget-me-not
Brunnera macrophylla
Siberian bugloss / false forget-me-not (Brunnera macrophylla) is a groundcover suited to the Colorado Front Range. It matures to about 12 to 18 in tall and 18 to 24 in wide, needs medium water, and prefers dappled sun to deep shade. Silver-marbled heart-shaped foliage + sky-blue forget-me-not flowers. A shade gem.
On the CSU listmedium water12 to 18 in tall and 18 to 24 in wide
Photos
- Photo 1: (c) Y. Liu, some rights reserved (CC BY)
- Photo 2: no rights reserved
- Photo 3: (c) Will Kuhn, some rights reserved (CC BY)
At a glance
Will it survive here?
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 3 to 8
- Water needs
- medium water
- Sun
- Best in dappled sun; tolerates deep shade. Flowers best with more sun.
- Soil
- loam
- Soil pH
- 6.0 to 7.5
- Hail tolerance
- moderate
- Wind tolerance
- low
- Salt tolerance
- low
- Site uses
- Cool north foundations, Dry shade under conifers
How big, what shape?
- Mature size
- 12 to 18 in tall and 18 to 24 in wide
- Growth habit
- Clumping
- Planting spacing
- ~17 to 24 in apart
What it looks like, and when
- Bloom time
- mid spring, late spring
- Bloom color
- blue
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Winter cover
- Bare in winter
What it will do to your yard
- Foot traffic
- No foot traffic
Who else benefits
- Pollinator value
- moderate
- Deer
- Not rated
- Colorado native
- No
Also worth knowing
- Fire rating
- Not rated
Using Siberian bugloss / false forget-me-not as a groundcover
Siberian bugloss / false forget-me-not grows in tidy clumps. It fills in to a moderately dense cover. It dies back in winter, leaving the ground bare until spring.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Siberian bugloss / false forget-me-not good for the Colorado Front Range?
- Yes, Siberian bugloss / false forget-me-not is a well-suited groundcover for Colorado's Front Range.
- How big does Siberian bugloss / false forget-me-not get?
- It matures to about 12 to 18 in tall and 18 to 24 in wide.
- How far apart do I plant Siberian bugloss / false forget-me-not?
- Space Siberian bugloss / false forget-me-not about 17 in apart for a faster, fuller cover, or up to 24 in apart for a looser planting.
- Is Siberian bugloss / false forget-me-not hardy on the Front Range?
- Siberian bugloss / false forget-me-not is hardy in USDA 3 to 8. The Colorado Front Range spans roughly USDA 4b to 6a, so it is well within range.
- How much water does Siberian bugloss / false forget-me-not need?
- It needs medium water once established.
- Is Siberian bugloss / false forget-me-not native to Colorado?
- No. It is not a Colorado native, but it grows well on the Front Range.
- Can you walk on Siberian bugloss / false forget-me-not?
- Siberian bugloss / false forget-me-not isn't meant for foot traffic, site it where you won't need to walk across it.
- Will Siberian bugloss / false forget-me-not spread or stay put?
- Siberian bugloss / false forget-me-not is clumping. Give it room to fill in and edit the edges to keep it where you want it.
- Does Siberian bugloss / false forget-me-not stay green in winter?
- No, Siberian bugloss / false forget-me-not dies back in winter and leaves the ground bare until it returns in spring.
