Product Field NotesCompanion Plants
Jack Frost Brunnera: Silver Leaves That Echo Lavender in Shade
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Jack Frost brunnera has heart-shaped leaves so heavily frosted in silver that only a fine network of green veins and a thin green edge show through, giving a crackled look. In May, airy sprays of tiny baby blue flowers, like forget-me-nots, float above the foliage. It forms a neat mound 12 to 15 inches tall and wide.
It holds an Award of Garden Merit and was named Perennial Plant of the Year in 2012, which is a polite way of saying gardeners have trusted it for a long time.
Jack Frost at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Brunnera macrophylla 'Jack Frost' |
| Foliage | Heart-shaped, 4 to 6 inches across, silver with green veins |
| Flowers | Tiny baby blue sprays, forget-me-not style |
| Size | 12 to 15 inches tall and wide |
| Bloom | Early to mid-May |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 3-8 |
| Light | Part shade to full shade |
| Deer | Resistant |
Silver on both sides of the garden
Lavender's silver-gray foliage is half its charm. Jack Frost lets you carry that silver into places lavender cannot go: under trees, along the north side of a house, beside a shaded walk. Planted with hostas and ferns, its frosted leaves glow in low light the way a lavender hedge glows in full sun. The blue May flowers arrive well before lavender opens, so the garden has something blooming in both light zones early in the year.
Lay out the shade beds and sunny lavender rows together in the Companion Plant Planner.
Planting and care
- Light: shade with protection from afternoon sun. Leaves scorch in hot sun or drought.
- Soil: humus-rich and evenly moist, but not waterlogged over winter.
- Watering: water at the base and avoid overhead watering late in the day, which can invite leaf spot in humid weather.
- After bloom: shear off spent flower stems to keep the mound tidy.
- Cleanup: trim tattered leaves in late fall or early spring. It rarely needs dividing.
Groundcover, containers and spring bouquets
Planted in groups, Jack Frost makes a shimmering groundcover under deciduous trees. It also works in shaded containers and along the edge of a woodland bed. Cut a few flower sprays in May for small spring bouquets; they are dainty, so short vases suit them best.
Two tray sizes
Jack Frost is offered as a 72-cell plug tray for growers and large groundcover plantings, and a 20-cell plug tray with larger plugs for planting a shade bed. See each product page for current availability, or visit the Wholesale Hub.
Frequently asked questions
Can it grow in sun if I water it?
Not well. Even with water, hot afternoon sun scorches the silver leaves. Morning sun is the most it wants.
What are the usual pests?
Slugs and aphids. Deer tend to avoid it.
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