Content
Brunnera sibirica (lat. Brunnera sibirica) is a perennial plant of the Borage family. Used in decorative floriculture and landscape design. They are planted together with other crops, since by mid-summer, after flowering ends, the leaves dry out. By autumn, dense new foliage appears, which decorates the area until frost.
Description
Siberian brunnera is a herbaceous perennial. Grows in a wide canopy rather than as a bush. Stem height is 25-80 cm. The leaves are large (10-20 cm), heart-shaped, grow densely, forming a continuous cover at a height of 40-50 cm from the ground.
The flowers are small, up to 1 cm in diameter, beautiful blue, collected in racemes. The flowering period is from April to June. After its end, the leaves dry out, by autumn new ones appear, and re-blooming is possible.
The fruit is a nut and has no nutritional value.
The rhizome is located horizontally, has a thickness of up to 1.5 cm, and thread-like adventitious roots extend from it.
Siberian Brunnera is an excellent early honey plant. Dried aerial parts are used in folk medicine to treat inflammation accompanied by high fever, as a mild laxative. The leaves, stems and flowers are collected during flowering and then dried.
The Siberian Brunnera does not do well during hot, dry periods.
Where does it grow
Brunnera grows in its natural environment in meadows, the edges of taiga forests, and along the banks of streams. Its natural habitat is Southern, Western and Central Siberia. In parks and flower beds it grows well next to other crops, including fruit trees.
It is used as an early flowering ornamental plant in landscape design in central Russia and Europe. The plant is unpretentious:
- Tolerates well, shade, partial shade, in the southern regions it reacts poorly to bright light.
- It does not require special care.
- Grows well in any soil, prefers areas with loose, well-moistened soil.
Planted in group plantings in flower beds, along borders, to decorate rocky hills. In mixed plantings, pale pink tulips, darmera, Julia primrose, forget-me-nots and mountain weed are planted next to it.
Reproduction
Siberian brunnera is propagated by cuttings of rhizomes and seeds. The first method is used most often. In the short summer, in its natural habitat, Brunnera does not always have time to produce seeds; it is difficult to find high-quality planting material in stores.
Steps for propagating Brunnera Siberian rhizomes:
- The plant is dug up after flowering ends (in July-August).
- Shake off the soil from the roots, and then wash off the remaining soil with water.
- Remove all rotten and diseased areas of the root system.
- Cut the rhizome at the branching points with a sharp knife into pieces 6 cm long, leaving at least one living bud on each section, but no more than six.
- The sections are treated with crushed coal.
- “Delenki” are planted in the soil, deepened by 2-3 cm.
- The soil is well watered.
After propagation by rhizomes, Brunnera begins to bloom the very next year.
Seeds are sown in open ground in late autumn. When sowing in spring, stratification is carried out for 3-4 months. To do this, the seeds are placed in the refrigerator in the fall or tightly packed in a container or bag, then buried underground or in the snow.
To cut the rhizome you will need a very sharp, pre-sterilized knife.
Planting and care
After planting the brunners, the soil on the site is mulched. The following is used as mulch:
- sawdust;
- tree bark;
- coffee grounds.
This is where caring for the Siberian Brunner ends. The plant only needs watering in very hot, dry summers. The lack of moisture can be determined by the condition of the leaves. They begin to dry out and fade. The plant does not require fertilizing. Siberian Brunnera, unlike its relatives, is not afraid of weeds, and due to its horizontal roots, it does not need loose soil.
Due to its rapid growth, Brunnera can become a source of problems, just like a real weed. To prevent this from happening, it is recommended to dig a plastic border tape around the area where Brunnera grows.
Trimming
Siberian Brunnera grows evenly and does not produce tall, elongated shoots, so there is no need to form a crown. To maintain a decorative appearance, it is necessary to regularly inspect the plant and remove dried leaves and stems.
After flowering ends, complete pruning, otherwise dried leaves will spoil the appearance of the area. If you don’t want to mess around, you can plant tall ornamental plants nearby: hostas and bergenia.
In the fall, before the first frost, the leaves and stems are completely cut off, leaving small stumps above the ground level.
Diseases and pests
The Siberian Brunnera rarely gets sick. With heavy overwatering or heavy rain, it can be affected by fungal infections: brown spot and powdery mildew. If spots appear on the leaves and stems, remove the damaged parts of the plant and treat with Bordeaux mixture every two weeks until the signs of the disease disappear.
Occasionally, the Siberian brunnera is affected by whiteflies and aphids. In this case, the plantings are sprayed with a solution of “Karbafos” or “Aktellika”.
Preparing for winter
Brunnera sibirica is frost-resistant. Its natural habitat is taiga forests. The plant tolerates Siberian frosts, so it does not need special preparation for cold weather. In regions with snowy winters, pruning is sufficient. Without snow, the rhizomes freeze.
Photos in landscape design
Small blue Brunnera flowers attract attention and delight the eye throughout the month.
Even before flowering, the plant serves as a beautiful decoration for paths.
Brunnera grows well in the shade of trees and combines well with other plants, greening up the area even in late autumn
The neat cover of brunnera goes well with other plants and does not protrude beyond the lawn.
Conclusion
Brunnera sibirica requires almost no care, but can revitalize an area where it is difficult to grow more capricious plants. That is why it has gained popularity in landscape design.
