Today, even in gardening with considerable experience, it is difficult to find a site that is not ennobled by elements of landscape design. In addition to growing vegetables and berries, gardeners are increasingly decorating their plots with various ornamental crops.
Brunner gained great popularity due to its decorativeness and unpretentiousness. This plant can withstand frosts down to -30 degrees. Without losing its appearance and without degenerating, it can grow in one place comfortable for it for up to 15 years.
Description of the plant
Brunner belongs to the borage family. It is a low shrub with heart-shaped leaves on rather tall pubescent petioles. The height of the bushes can reach 60 cm. In the wild, it decorates the banks of rivers, lakes and streams, but can also be found in pine, fir and beech forests.
Named after Samuel Brunner, a botanist from Switzerland. But among gardeners the name "forget-me-not" has stuck because of the similarity of flowers. The only external difference is that the forget-me-not has a yellow center of the flower, and the brunner has a white one.
Types and varieties of brunner
In total, there are 3 types of brunners:
Brunner large-leaved (Brunnera macrophylla) - her homeland is the Caucasus. Outwardly, it is a small shrub about 40 cm tall with a powerful rhizome, from which densely pubescent stems with dark green pointed leaves in the shape of a heart extend to the sides. Flowers with a shade from lilac to dark blue with a white spot in the center are collected in panicles. The flowering period is from the end of April to the end of June. It is most popular with gardeners, since the leaves do not change color until deep frost.
Brunner Siberian (Brunnera sibirica) - owes its name to the place of its origin - Western and Eastern Siberia. Its long and strong rhizome develops a whole network underground, from which processes cover the ground with a carpet of plants. Does not form a bush. Flowers of dark blue color rise above wrinkled and dense leaves in panicle inflorescences. Prefers shady, humid places. The flowering process lasts from the end of May for a month. Further, the plant almost dries up, but from mid-August it is covered with new greenery, which it retains until frost.
Brunner eastern (Brunnera orientalis) - the homeland is the countries of the Middle East. It does not differ in particular decorativeness, therefore it is not used as a decoration for plots, but grows only in its natural environment.
Large-leaved Brunner varieties
Since of all the species, Brunner's large-leaved is the most attractive for landscaping, it was she who became the basis for breeding various varieties.
Jack Frost - "Frost" is translated from English as "frost". The variety has such a name for a reason: the leaves look as if covered with frost - green veins on a silver background. Forms a fairly large bush, reaching 60 cm in height. It blooms from May to June and is characterized by increased frost resistance.
To maintain the decorative effect of the leaves, constant moisture is required. Therefore, the northern part of the site is quite suitable for planting, protected from prolonged exposure to sunlight, where water stagnates in the rains. It is not worth planting in full shade, as well as in the sun.
Variegata - low grade - up to 35 cm. Leaves of emerald color with a transition at the edges to white.
Prefers partial shade. When planted in a sunny place, the leaves will burn and lose their decorative effect. It can also completely discard foliage in case of drought.
Looking glass - translated as "mirror". It is only 20 to 35 cm high. A silvery shade prevails in the color of the leaves. The flowers are pale blue with a diameter of 5 to 7 mm.
Shady and semi-shady places are suitable for planting. The bushes keep their shape well and are quite resistant to fungal infections. Perfect for curbs and shaded parts of rockeries.
Kings Ransom - shrub from 40 to 55 cm in height. The leaves are large with dark green veins on a light gray background, creamy along the edges. Differs in abundant flowering from late April to mid-June. In warm autumn weather, flowering can resume, but in this case, it is better to remove the inflorescences so that the plant does not lose strength before winter. Grows well in partial shade with regular watering.
Millennium Zilber - the emerald leaves of this variety are covered with a scattering of small white spots closer to the edge, which makes it more recognizable among the rest. Growing conditions are the same as for other varieties.
Silver Hut - if you translate the name from English into Russian, then it will sound like a "silver heart". Anyone who sees the leaves of this Brunner variety will immediately understand why it was named that way. As if dozens of silver hearts with a thin green edge and veins frame the flower stalks. The bush reaches 40 cm in height and up to half a meter in diameter. Thanks to the dense leaf blade, it can withstand even direct sunlight and is not afraid of an excess of moisture. The acidity of the soil is not demanding.
Choosing a place for planting brunner
Usually Brunner flowers are planted in flower beds, near fences and garden paths - it will look great on any part of the garden. Before planting a brunner in a prepared place, study its characteristics and location requirements - it all depends on the variety you choose.
The great advantage of the brunner is that it feels comfortable in partial shade and in places with high soil moisture. That is, where most of the plants will either be inhibited in growth, or get sick with a fungus. Therefore, with its help, you can ennoble those corners of the garden, where the sun looks only in the first half of the day.
Planting brunner large-leaved
The most optimal time for planting brunners in open ground is from July to early August. Brunner does not require any specific soil for his planting, but it is still better if the soil is moist, loamy and heavy.
Brunner is categorically forbidden to plant in the spring, since during this period it is extremely susceptible to various diseases and pests. But if you still decide to plant the brunner in the spring, then it is better to do this together with the lump of earth in which it grew before the transplant. It is better to plant a brunner on a cloudy day or any other, but in the evening.
When planting a flower, it must be divided - this will rejuvenate the plant. After flowering, the ground part of the brunners is cut off, and the roots are dug up. Rinse the dug roots well and remove rotten and old parts. Next, the main root is cut into pieces. Delenki must have buds of future sprouts.
Cut parts of the root (delenki) are laid out in pre-prepared holes and buried in them. It is very important not to forget to water the buried roots well. The soil can be mulched so that the young growth does not suffer from a lack of moisture and overheating.
Landing is carried out as follows:
- The aboveground part is cut off, leaving 10-12 cm.
- The rhizome is dug up and washed in a large container with water.
- Defective root areas are removed.
- With a sharp knife, carefully divide the rhizome (easier along the line of the natural collapse of the bush) so that there is at least one bud on each part.
- Delenki are seated in the soaked holes and dug in with earth so as not to fill up the root collar.
Growing and caring for large-leaved brunner
The plant is so unpretentious that it does not even need watering, if, of course, it is planted in a good place. The overgrown Brunner will not let weeds. But you still need to keep track of the weeds and do weeding if necessary. The only thing that will not interfere with the successful cultivation of Brunner is mulch in hot summer and winter.
It is strictly forbidden to dig or loosen the soil under the brunner - you can damage the roots, which are usually located close to the surface of the earth. Before wintering, it is better to cut off the aerial parts, leaving hemp about 12 cm long.
In the spring, you can scatter granules of complex fertilizer directly over the snow to accelerate the growing season and richer color of the leaves.
Breeding brunner
Brunner reproduces vegetatively (by dividing the bush) and seeds. A favorable time for planting and transplanting comes after the end of the flowering period, that is, in August. By this time, the laying of future shoots just ends. If it is necessary to plant a bush earlier, then it should be dug out with a large margin and transported without sprinkling an earthen lump.
Seed propagation is a more painstaking job, since self-seeding is rare. The seeds ripen around the end of July. For normal germination, they need stratification within 3-4 months, so Brunner must sow before winter.
Diseases and pests
Drying of foliage in a brunner, if it is planted in a sunny area, cannot be called a disease. Rather, these are problems due to a violation of agricultural technology, which are eliminated by transplanting a plant in more favorable conditions.
But fungal infections in the form of powdery mildew or brown spot are a real attack in a rainy summer. Even such a plant that is loyal to excess moisture in the ground is not able to withstand fungal infections at high humidity and low air temperatures.
The fungus spreads very quickly. Therefore, in order to prevent the plant from losing its decorative effect, all affected parts should be removed and treated with Bordeaux mixture or other suitable means. As a preventive measure, you can spray it with phytosporin once every 2 weeks.
From insect pests, aphids (especially if there are a lot of ants in the area), whitefly or miner moths can attack. "Green soap" or tar solution will help with aphids. Against the rest, it is better to stock up on several bags of complex insecticides in advance.
Brunner in landscape design
The plant looks spectacular along the paths, will decorate any alpine slide or rockery. It also looks magnificent as a lower tier in multi-storey flower beds. Favorably sets off tall flowering perennials in mixborders. It goes well with wild garlic, ferns, juniper and horned goat weed.
All Brunner varieties feel comfortable next to water bodies, making their shores airy green. This plant alone is capable of turning any nondescript site into an exquisite and elegant one for a long time and without much hassle.
End of flowering and preparation for winter
Brunner's large-leaved ceases to bloom in the summer, in July. Withered flowers should be cut off, leaving only the leaves. Leaves, unlike flowers, do not lose their beauty even before the onset of cold weather.
With the arrival of the cold pore, the brunner leaves should also be cut off, since they themselves will not fall off. After the leaves are completely cut off from the flower, it can be prepared for wintering. Brunner can spend the winter on her own, but additional help will not hurt her.It is enough just to mulch the soil with sawdust, leaves or humus.
