Jack Frost Brunnera
Jack Frost Brunnera Brightens Shade with Silver Heart-Shaped Leaves
Jack Frost Brunnera is one of the best shade perennials for adding brightness, texture, and season-long foliage interest to woodland gardens and shaded borders. Its heart-shaped leaves have a frosted silver overlay with crisp green veining, creating a crackled, almost metallic look that stands out beautifully in low-light garden spaces.
Also known as Brunnera Jack Frost, this perennial is especially useful for homeowners who want something showier than plain green foliage but easier to maintain than many flowering shade plants. The silver leaves act like a natural spotlight under trees, along shaded walkways, and in mixed perennial beds.
Blue Forget-Me-Not Flowers Add Spring Color Above the Foliage
In spring, Jack Frost Brunnera sends up airy sprays of small blue flowers that resemble forget-me-nots. The soft blue blooms rise above the foliage and create a delicate, woodland-style display before the foliage becomes the main show for the rest of the growing season.
This early bloom makes Jack Frost Brunnera a strong companion for spring bulbs, hellebores, ferns, hostas, heuchera, astilbe, epimedium, and shade-loving groundcovers. After the flowers fade, the silver leaves continue to carry the planting with clean, long-lasting color.
A Low-Maintenance Shade Perennial for Woodland Gardens and Borders
Jack Frost Brunnera forms a tidy clump that gradually spreads by short rhizomes, making it useful as a polite groundcover for shade. It is not a fast-running groundcover, but over time it can fill in shaded beds with a thick, attractive layer of foliage.
Use it in woodland gardens, shaded foundation beds, north-facing borders, under open-canopy trees, along shaded paths, or in containers where the foliage can be seen up close. Its compact size makes it easy to tuck between larger shade plants without overwhelming the design.
Best in Part Shade, Moist Soil, and Protection from Hot Afternoon Sun
Jack Frost Brunnera performs best in part shade to full shade with rich, moist, well-drained soil. Morning sun is usually fine in cooler climates, but hot afternoon sun can scorch the leaves, especially in warmer regions or dry soil.
This is not a dry-shade plant. Keep the soil consistently moist during establishment, and use mulch to help cool the root zone and conserve moisture. In hot, humid southern climates, Brunnera can struggle, so it is best placed in cool, shaded areas with excellent soil moisture and airflow.
Deer Resistant Foliage
Jack Frost Brunnera is generally considered deer-resistant and rabbit-resistant, largely because of its rough, slightly hairy foliage. That makes it a practical choice for shaded gardens where hostas and other tender perennials may be browsed.
The plant is grown primarily for foliage, not for nonstop flowers. Expect the blue blooms in spring and the silver foliage to remain the main ornamental feature through the season. If summer heat or drought causes tired foliage, trim damaged leaves and water deeply to encourage fresh growth.
Jack Frost Brunnera Brightens Shade with Silver Heart-Shaped Leaves
Jack Frost Brunnera is one of the best shade perennials for adding brightness, texture, and season-long foliage interest to woodland gardens and shaded borders. Its heart-shaped leaves have a frosted silver overlay with crisp green veining, creating a crackled, almost metallic look that stands out beautifully in low-light garden spaces.
Also known as Brunnera Jack Frost, this perennial is especially useful for homeowners who want something showier than plain green foliage but easier to maintain than many flowering shade plants. The silver leaves act like a natural spotlight under trees, along shaded walkways, and in mixed perennial beds.
Blue Forget-Me-Not Flowers Add Spring Color Above the Foliage
In spring, Jack Frost Brunnera sends up airy sprays of small blue flowers that resemble forget-me-nots. The soft blue blooms rise above the foliage and create a delicate, woodland-style display before the foliage becomes the main show for the rest of the growing season.
This early bloom makes Jack Frost Brunnera a strong companion for spring bulbs, hellebores, ferns, hostas, heuchera, astilbe, epimedium, and shade-loving groundcovers. After the flowers fade, the silver leaves continue to carry the planting with clean, long-lasting color.
A Low-Maintenance Shade Perennial for Woodland Gardens and Borders
Jack Frost Brunnera forms a tidy clump that gradually spreads by short rhizomes, making it useful as a polite groundcover for shade. It is not a fast-running groundcover, but over time it can fill in shaded beds with a thick, attractive layer of foliage.
Use it in woodland gardens, shaded foundation beds, north-facing borders, under open-canopy trees, along shaded paths, or in containers where the foliage can be seen up close. Its compact size makes it easy to tuck between larger shade plants without overwhelming the design.
Best in Part Shade, Moist Soil, and Protection from Hot Afternoon Sun
Jack Frost Brunnera performs best in part shade to full shade with rich, moist, well-drained soil. Morning sun is usually fine in cooler climates, but hot afternoon sun can scorch the leaves, especially in warmer regions or dry soil.
This is not a dry-shade plant. Keep the soil consistently moist during establishment, and use mulch to help cool the root zone and conserve moisture. In hot, humid southern climates, Brunnera can struggle, so it is best placed in cool, shaded areas with excellent soil moisture and airflow.
Deer Resistant Foliage
Jack Frost Brunnera is generally considered deer-resistant and rabbit-resistant, largely because of its rough, slightly hairy foliage. That makes it a practical choice for shaded gardens where hostas and other tender perennials may be browsed.
The plant is grown primarily for foliage, not for nonstop flowers. Expect the blue blooms in spring and the silver foliage to remain the main ornamental feature through the season. If summer heat or drought causes tired foliage, trim damaged leaves and water deeply to encourage fresh growth.
Description
Jack Frost Brunnera Brightens Shade with Silver Heart-Shaped Leaves
Jack Frost Brunnera is one of the best shade perennials for adding brightness, texture, and season-long foliage interest to woodland gardens and shaded borders. Its heart-shaped leaves have a frosted silver overlay with crisp green veining, creating a crackled, almost metallic look that stands out beautifully in low-light garden spaces.
Also known as Brunnera Jack Frost, this perennial is especially useful for homeowners who want something showier than plain green foliage but easier to maintain than many flowering shade plants. The silver leaves act like a natural spotlight under trees, along shaded walkways, and in mixed perennial beds.
Blue Forget-Me-Not Flowers Add Spring Color Above the Foliage
In spring, Jack Frost Brunnera sends up airy sprays of small blue flowers that resemble forget-me-nots. The soft blue blooms rise above the foliage and create a delicate, woodland-style display before the foliage becomes the main show for the rest of the growing season.
This early bloom makes Jack Frost Brunnera a strong companion for spring bulbs, hellebores, ferns, hostas, heuchera, astilbe, epimedium, and shade-loving groundcovers. After the flowers fade, the silver leaves continue to carry the planting with clean, long-lasting color.
A Low-Maintenance Shade Perennial for Woodland Gardens and Borders
Jack Frost Brunnera forms a tidy clump that gradually spreads by short rhizomes, making it useful as a polite groundcover for shade. It is not a fast-running groundcover, but over time it can fill in shaded beds with a thick, attractive layer of foliage.
Use it in woodland gardens, shaded foundation beds, north-facing borders, under open-canopy trees, along shaded paths, or in containers where the foliage can be seen up close. Its compact size makes it easy to tuck between larger shade plants without overwhelming the design.
Best in Part Shade, Moist Soil, and Protection from Hot Afternoon Sun
Jack Frost Brunnera performs best in part shade to full shade with rich, moist, well-drained soil. Morning sun is usually fine in cooler climates, but hot afternoon sun can scorch the leaves, especially in warmer regions or dry soil.
This is not a dry-shade plant. Keep the soil consistently moist during establishment, and use mulch to help cool the root zone and conserve moisture. In hot, humid southern climates, Brunnera can struggle, so it is best placed in cool, shaded areas with excellent soil moisture and airflow.
Deer Resistant Foliage
Jack Frost Brunnera is generally considered deer-resistant and rabbit-resistant, largely because of its rough, slightly hairy foliage. That makes it a practical choice for shaded gardens where hostas and other tender perennials may be browsed.
The plant is grown primarily for foliage, not for nonstop flowers. Expect the blue blooms in spring and the silver foliage to remain the main ornamental feature through the season. If summer heat or drought causes tired foliage, trim damaged leaves and water deeply to encourage fresh growth.
