Content
In April-May, small, sky-blue flowers appear in gardens, which are often confused with forget-me-nots. This is Brunnera Looking Glass and remains decorative all summer long. At first, attention is attracted by its delicate inflorescences, and later by the appearance of luxurious foliage.
Description of Brunners Looking Glass
Brunnera is an ornamental perennial plant. It looks like a bush with a small rhizome located vertically. Stems up to 40 cm long extend from it. The heart-shaped leaves are dark green on top, gray and slightly pubescent on the back side. Their length is about 25 cm, the tops are sharp.
Small blue flowers with a white spot in the center are collected in paniculate inflorescences. Brunnera "Looking Glass" blooms for about a month, which can repeat in the fall if the weather is comfortable.
It is recommended to do a rejuvenating transplant every 3-4 years.
Growing from seeds
To grow Brunnera “Looking Glass”, you need to get seedlings and plant them in open ground. The difficulty lies in collecting seed material. It does not ripen due to the flowering of the perennial, which can last until frost.
One of the options for growing seedlings is to sow seeds directly into the ground in the fall and plant the seedlings in the spring after they are grown.
Another way is to sow in boxes. For this purpose, in winter the seed material is subjected to stratification in a refrigerator, in the spring it is sown in containers, and after several leaves appear, it is planted in the ground.
Landing in the ground
Growing “Looking Glass” brunnera is a simple process that can be accomplished not only by sowing seeds and growing seedlings, but also by dividing the mother bushes and rhizomes. This method allows you to preserve all the varietal qualities of the plant, including variegation, and observe flowering already in the current season. With the seed propagation method, the first flowering is later - 2-3 years after planting.
The plant is often called forget-me-not among people.
Site selection and preparation
For “Looking Glass” brunnera, the ideal area is one that is illuminated by the sun in the morning and shaded the rest of the day. If the place chosen for the plant is in constant shade, the shoots become elongated and flowering is poor. A sunny place is not suitable due to the possibility of drying out the soil and lack of moisture.
Loams are ideal soil for growth. The perennial will not need any watering or fertilizing. On poor soil, it is not recommended to apply fresh manure to avoid excessive growth of leaf mass and poor wintering.
To prepare the soil for planting, carefully dig it up, remove weeds, and add well-rotted compost.
Planting stages
Brunnera "Looking Glass" can be planted throughout the season until September. The optimal period is July-August.Planting is carried out on a cool, cloudy day. The algorithm should be followed:
- Cut off the foliage, leaving 10-12 cm of petioles.
- Dig up the root of the mother plant and immerse it in warm water.
- Remove damage and rot from the roots.
- Divide the rhizome into several parts using a sharp, disinfected knife.
- Dig holes according to the size of the root system.
- Place “divisions” in them.
- Sprinkle with soil and tamp down a little.
- Water and mulch.
The aerial part of Brunnera "Looking Glass" is used in folk medicine as an anti-inflammatory and antipyretic agent.
Care
The perennial belongs to unpretentious plants, which, with the right choice of location, can grow on it without problems for up to 15 years. Brunner "Looking Glass" requires constant maintenance of the soil moist. Under this condition, it looks great, blooms and develops beautifully. It is worth mulching the soil to avoid moisture loss and maintain its breathability and loose state.
Weeds are removed periodically. Experts advise cutting off flower stalks that have finished flowering to avoid self-seeding. On poor soils, fertilizing is carried out twice a season, using organic and mineral fertilizers.
Diseases and pests
Heavy, prolonged rainfall, creating high humidity, can provoke the development of brown spot on Brunner. The fungal disease affects the leaves, which first develop olive and then brown spots. Spores accumulate on the back side and quickly spread throughout the plant. The leaves dry out, the perennial weakens, develops and blooms poorly.To combat pathology, affected leaves should be removed and the rest treated with fungicides.
The main pests for brunnera "Looking Glass" are aphids and whiteflies, which damage plants by feeding on their sap and leaving sticky waste products on the leaf blades. To get rid of them, use a contact insecticide (“Actellikt”).
Snails and slugs that attack plants are collected by hand, traps are set, or treated with pesticides.
Trimming
To maintain a healthy appearance, the plant needs pruning, which is carried out in three stages according to the following scheme:
- After flowering (in June), the flower stalks are removed so that the plant does not waste energy on ripening the seeds.
- The second pruning is carried out in August. Cut off the emerging flower stalks, preventing the plant from weakening by winter.
- After the first frost, the entire above-ground part is removed to prevent the spread of pests and diseases.
Preparing for winter
Brunner "Looking Glass" is winter-hardy and does not require additional shelter for the winter. To prepare for cold weather, the plant is pruned and the soil is mulched with compost, humus or peat. This event is especially important before harsh winters with little snow. With the onset of spring, the mulch is removed and the soil is loosened.
Reproduction
For propagation, “Looking Glass” brunners use two methods – seed and vegetative.
The first method is less preferable, since the process is time-consuming and the varietal characteristics may not be preserved.
The vegetative method (dividing the rhizome) is simple and effective. Among the advantages of the method are the rapid restoration of the above-ground part and the production of a large number of new plants from one mother plant.
Photos in landscape design
Brunner's "Looking Glass" is often used by gardeners and designers to decorate the landscape in shady areas of the garden.
“Looking Glass” brunners use plants of different textures, colors and shapes as “partners”
Grows well on the north side of the house, where rainwater flows from the roof. Grows well on the north side of the house, where rainwater flows from the roof.
Thanks to its type of brunner, “Looking Glass” looks equally impressive in rocky gardens, alpine hills and mixborders
Brunnera can grow in one place for many years
Conclusion
Looking Glass is indispensable for decorating Brunner's shady garden. Its bright foliage and delicate flowers get along well with trees and shrubs. An additional bonus for gardeners is the plant’s unpretentiousness and minimal care.
