Content
Brunner Alexander Great is a large-leaved species of crop that was bred thanks to the efforts of the Belarusian breeder Alexander Zuykevich. The variety is valued for its unpretentiousness and high decorative qualities, which it retains until the onset of frost. This explains the widespread use of the species in landscape design. This variety combines ideally with ferns, hostas, astilbes, and heucheras, as it also prefers shady areas in the garden.
Brunnera is used in shady mixborders, as a border.
Description of Brunners Alexander Great
This variety stands out noticeably from other species with its huge leaves, which give the bush volume. As a result of this runner, “Alexander Great” looks especially elegant. The height of the bush reaches 60 cm, and the diameter is about 70 cm. The length of the plates is 30 cm and the width is 15-20 cm.
The leaves of Brunnera "Alexander Great" are heart-shaped, silvery-white with green veins and a narrow border along the edges, which creates the impression of an unusual ornament.
The flowers of this variety are small, 0.5-1.0 cm in diameter, and shaped like forget-me-nots. They are collected in loose inflorescences. The color of the petals is pale blue. The plant forms flower stalks in late spring - early summer. They confidently rise above the leaves. The flowering period for Brunnera "Alexander Great" is 3-4 weeks. But if conditions are favorable, the variety may bloom again in the fall, but not so profusely. The fruit of the plant is a small nut.
Growing from seeds
Even a novice gardener can grow Brunnera “Alexander Great”. To do this, it is necessary to purchase high-quality varietal seeds so that the grown seedlings ultimately correspond to the chosen variety.
Sowing should be done in December. To do this, prepare wide containers 8-10 cm high with drainage holes. You can prepare the soil mixture for brunnera yourself. To do this, you need to mix the following components:
- 2 parts of turf;
- 1 part humus;
- 1 part coconut substrate;
- 1 part peat.
A day before sowing, the substrate should be spilled with a bright pink solution of potassium permanganate and then dried a little. This will prevent the development of fungal diseases at the initial stage of seedling growth.
Algorithm of actions:
- Place a 1 cm layer of drainage on the bottom of the container.
- Fill the rest of the volume with the substrate, leaving 1 cm short of the top edge.
- Water the soil, wait until the water is completely absorbed.
- Make grooves 0.5 cm deep.
- Place seeds in them and sprinkle with soil.
After sowing, the container should be covered with film and placed in the vegetable section of the refrigerator for 3 months. Thus, seed stratification occurs, which stimulates growth processes.
At the end of February, the containers should be placed on the windowsill and ensure a temperature of +18-19 degrees. The seedlings will sprout in 3-4 weeks. When the brunnera sprouts get a little stronger, they need to be adapted to external conditions. To do this, you need to remove the film for half an hour for the first time, and with each subsequent day increase the interval by another 30-40 minutes. After a week, the seedlings can be completely opened.
When the seedlings grow up, you need to transplant the strongest ones into separate containers with a diameter of 5-7 cm. And to speed up the development of the root system, you should water them with a solution of “Kornevin” (5 g per 5 l).
Before planting in a permanent place, the Alexander Great brunner seedlings need to be hardened off. To do this, a week before the procedure, you need to start taking it outside to a shaded place. Initially for 1 hour, and every day increase the interval by another 1-2 hours. A day before planting, seedlings can be left outside overnight.
Landing in the ground
In order for this crop to fully develop and bloom regularly, it is necessary to properly plant it taking into account its requirements. Failure to comply with basic recommendations leads to a decrease in the decorativeness of the brunnera, and sometimes to its death.
Site selection and preparation
In its natural environment, this crop prefers to grow in forest areas under the canopy of trees. Therefore, for planting “Alexander Great” brunners, you should select shaded, slightly moist areas. The culture grows well in clay soil.
When placing the plant in a sunny place, burns appear on the leaves.
The grown seedlings of the Alexander Great brunnera should be planted in open ground at the end of July - at the beginning of August.This will allow the plants to take root and adapt before winter arrives.
2 weeks before this, the area should be dug up and all roots of perennial weeds removed. You should also contribute per 1 sq. m. 5 kg of humus, 30 g of superphosphate and 15 g of potassium sulfate.
Planting stages
Planting of Brunnera “Alexander Great” seedlings should be carried out according to the standard scheme. To do this, make holes 8 cm deep at a distance of 60 cm from each other. You need to pour a little sand into the bottom of each hole and then water the soil. Transplantation of seedlings must be carried out without disturbing the earthen ball at the roots.
Then sprinkle a little soil and compact the soil at the base of the brunnera seedlings. A day after planting, the soil should be mulched with peat and tree bark. This will prevent excessive evaporation of moisture from the soil and overheating of the root system.
The area for brunnera needs to be prepared in advance
Care
Brunner "Alexander Great" is undemanding to care, which contributes to the growth of its popularity. The plant needs to be watered only in the absence of seasonal rains, and the rest of the time it can independently provide itself with moisture. It is impossible to loosen the soil at the base of the bushes, as this leads to damage to the root system. Therefore, it is enough to simply remove weeds throughout the season.
Brunnera "Alexander Great" needs to be fed at the beginning of the growing season in the spring. During this period, mineral nitrogen fertilizers should be used. Fertilize the second time after flowering. At this time, phosphorus-potassium mixtures should be used, which will increase the immunity of the crop.
Diseases and pests
Large-leaved brunnera "Alexander Great" has increased resistance to pests and diseases. However, failure to comply with growing conditions can cause the development of powdery mildew and brown spot. In this case, you need to treat the bushes with Bordeaux mixture or the “Hom” preparation.
Among the pests, aphids, which feed on the sap of young leaves and peduncles of the plant, are dangerous for brunnera. When the first signs of damage appear, you need to treat with Confidor Extra.
In rainy summer conditions, brunnera leaves can be damaged by slugs. To prevent this, you need to sprinkle the soil at the base of the bushes with tobacco dust or wood ash.
Trimming
“Alexander Great” does not require drastic pruning. It is enough only to remove damaged leaves and faded peduncles during the season, which reduce its decorative qualities.
Preparing for winter
With the first frost, the wilted leaves of Brunnera should be cut off at the base, leaving stubs no higher than 5 cm. Then sprinkle the root with a thick layer of peat or humus to prevent it from freezing. This plant does not need additional shelter for the winter.
The ground around the brunner needs to be constantly mulched
Reproduction
This Brunnera variety can be propagated by dividing the bush. To do this, in August you need to dig up an adult bush of the plant, clean the roots from the soil, and use a knife to cut it into separate segments. Each of them must have a growing point and a well-developed root shoot. After this, the seedlings must be immediately planted in a permanent place.
Photos in landscape design
How Brunnera “Alexander Great” looks in combination with other plants can be seen in the proposed photos.
The variety looks good along the garden path
The plant gets along well with the dicenter
Brunner can also successfully disguise unsightly areas near buildings
Conclusion
Brunner Alexander Great is a highly decorative variety that can give the shady areas of the site a well-groomed, beautiful appearance. At the same time, the plant does not require special attention; it is enough to only water it on rare occasions and fertilize it twice a year. But not every perennial has such qualities.
