Brunner: planting and care in the open field, description of varieties and species with photos

Garden owners have recently resorted more and more to landscaping to ennoble the site, decorating it with decorative flowers, the most common of which has become brunnera. This compact shrub pleases the eye with tenderness and lightness of flowers, unobtrusive and pleasant aroma. In addition, Brunnera is unpretentious and does not require special care, and planting a plant does not take much time.

Description and features

Brunnera is a perennial flowering shrub that can grow in one place without a transplant for 15 years, forming dense terry thickets.Plant height - 15-60 centimeters, leaves - heart-shaped, on high lowered petioles. The inflorescences are blue, about 10 millimeters in diameter, reminiscent of forget-me-nots, hence the second name of the brunners is the forget-me-not, the only difference is the core of the brunners is white.

Outdoor cultivation

For breeding brunners in the garden, you should choose a shady area, devoid of constant direct rays, which are detrimental to flowering shrubs. The best decision when choosing a landing site is when the sun shines in the first half of the day, and the shadow falls in the second.

Date of planting

Landing should be carried out in the period from late July to early August, choosing for this the second half of the day, preferably in cloudy weather. Spring planting is prohibited, because during this period the bush is susceptible to diseases.

Seed selection and preparation

When buying brunner sprouts, you should pay attention to container options, the further planting of which is much easier. Shoots with an open root system require additional care:

the plant should be planted immediately - either in the soil or in a pot of earth;
remove large leaves to reduce evaporation;
spraying or wrapping with film is detrimental to sprouts, since brunnera loves air and is susceptible to moisture.

Any planting material should be free from external damage, look strong and he althy.

Soil preparation

Selection and soil preparation depends on the type of planting material:

large-leaved plant prefers soil of medium moisture, friability and fertility, so the soil should be dug up. Feeding is not necessary, so as not to provoke abundant foliage growth;
Siberian is best planted on clayey and moist soils that can not be weeded, controlling only the level of moisture.

Plant pattern

The easiest way to plant a plant is by dividing the root, which will give youth and strength to the bush:

after flowering, cut off the ground part, leaving 10 centimeters;
dig up the roots and rinse thoroughly;
remove old, rotten and sickly;
divide the main root into parts with a sharp knife so that each has a kidney;
dig parts of the roots into the planting holes, leaving the root collar;
water thoroughly and mulch.

Care

Like any plant, brunner requires some care.

Irrigation

Regular watering is only necessary if the plant is planted in full sun or the summer is too hot. In other cases, it is enough to water several times a season.

Loosening and weeding

Weeding adult brunners depends on the species, while young bushes should be weeded during transplantation and reproduction. The large-leaved plant needs regular protection from weeds, while the Siberian plant does not, because it grows strongly, not allowing weeds to appear.

Important! In addition to weeds, Siberian brunnera can suffocate other crops, so you should not forget about the space for its growth.

Loosening is not recommended for all species, as the roots of the shrub are close to the surface and may be damaged.

Feeding

In the spring, immediately after the snow melts, the soil needs to be fertilized with mineral fertilizers, scattering the granules over the garden. From organic fertilizers, you should choose manure infusion, which is applied once a month.

Diseases and pests

During a rainy summer or an excess of moisture in the soil, powdery mildew or brown spotting may develop in brunners. To combat the fungus, Bordeaux mixture or Fitosporin are suitable, as well as the complete removal of all infected parts. Of the parasites, the shrub is attacked by aphids or whiteflies, in the fight against which chemical or folk remedies will help.

Preparing for winter

Wintering brunners does not involve any particular difficulties, because the plant is frost-resistant:

leaves that have not fallen should be removed by yourself;
in severe winter, the soil should be mulched with humus or compost, in other cases, shelter is not needed;
with the warming of the shelter, it is necessary to remove and slightly loosen the soil, remembering the roots near the surface.

Transfer

Transplantation is carried out no more than once every 10 years, in August. Dig and fertilize the bed, place a drainage layer at the bottom of the planting hole. After the plant is dug up and transferred to a new place, sprinkled with earth and carefully tamped. Water the transplanted bush and put sawdust mulch.

Reproduction

It is possible to divide the plant in several ways.

Seeds

Seeding bush does not happen often. Seeds ripen by the end of July, then a 4-month stratification is required. Landing falls in the winter.

Dividing the bush

As already mentioned, for the root division of the bush, you need to trim, wash and clean the roots with further separation and planting.

Views

Brunner is divided into several types.

Large-leaved

Height - 40 centimeters. Stems are drooping. The leaves are heart-shaped, pointed, dark green. Flowers are dark blue with a white centre. Diameter - about 7 millimeters. Flowering - from mid-April to mid-May. May re-bloom in autumn.

Siberian

Height - 60 centimeters. Stems - solitary, drooping, growing in thickets. Leaves: basal - heart-shaped; on stems - lanceolate. Flowers are dark blue with a white heart. Diameter - 5 millimeters. Flowering - from late May to late June. Since mid-August, landscaping has been repeated after temporary drying.

Eastern

Not used in horticulture as it grows wild.

Variegated

There is no separate plant species, but many varieties are called so for their colorful leaves.

Popular varieties

Let's consider the most commonly grown varieties in vegetable gardens, descended from the large-leaved species of brunners.

Millennium Zilber

Differences: gray-white spots on the green near the edge.

Jack Frost

Height: 60 centimeters. Differences: silver leaf, with green veins. Frost-resistant, needs constant moisture.

Hudspan Cream

Differences: wide, long, about 15 centimeters, sheet framed with a white-beige border.

Langtrees

Differences: flowers - light blue; leaves - emerald, with silver splashes.

Variegata

Or Variegata. Height: 35 centimeters. Differences: the dark green color of the foliage smoothly turns into white. Does not like direct sunlight, loses greenery in drought.

Looking Glass

Height: 20-30 centimeters. Differences: leaves - silver; flowers are pale blue. Resistant to fungi, loves partial shade.

Kings Ransome

Height: 40-55 centimeters. Differences: the leaves are large, light gray, with dark green veins and a beige border. Flowering time: 2 months, from April.

Important! Repeat flowering in autumn is possible, but the inflorescences should be removed so as not to deplete the bush before wintering.

Silver Hut

Height: 40 centimeters. Differences: leaves are silver, with a green border and veins. Not afraid of direct sunlight and high humidity.

Use

Let's consider the use of brunners in various fields.

Medicine

Brunner is a plant not only beautiful, but also useful, as evidenced by the use in folk methods of treatment.

Useful properties

In folk medicine, the ground part of the Siberian bush collected during flowering is used, which is subsequently dried, and then prepared infusions or decoctions that help with inflammation, high fever, fever or constipation.

Contraindications

Before using infusions or decoctions, you should consult your doctor to avoid individual intolerance.

Landscape design

Brunneru is used to decorate borders, the plant goes well with stones and ponds, as well as other ornamental flowering shrubs. In addition, the bush can be planted as a hedge, decorate it with an alpine hill or a multi-tiered flower bed.