You've found the famous Dave's Garden website! Join this friendly global community that shares tips and ideas for home and gardens, along with seeds and plants!
Check out the DG homepage for a brief overview of what you'll find in this gardening mega-site.
Login
If you don't have an account yet, visit the registration page to sign up.
Family: Boraginaceae Genus: Brunnera (BROO-ner-uh) (Info) Species: macrophylla (mak-roh-FIL-uh) (Info) Cultivar: Jack Frost Additional cultivar information: (PP13859) Hybridized by Walters; Year of Registration or Introduction: 2001
Hardiness: USDA Zone 3a: to -39.9 °C (-40 °F) USDA Zone 3b: to -37.2 °C (-35 °F) USDA Zone 4a: to -34.4 °C (-30 °F) USDA Zone 4b: to -31.6 °C (-25 °F) USDA Zone 5a: to -28.8 °C (-20 °F) USDA Zone 5b: to -26.1 °C (-15 °F) USDA Zone 6a: to -23.3 °C (-10 °F) USDA Zone 6b: to -20.5 °C (-5 °F) USDA Zone 7a: to -17.7 °C (0 °F) USDA Zone 7b: to -14.9 °C (5 °F)
Sun Exposure: Light Shade Partial to Full Shade Full Shade
Danger: N/A
Bloom Color: Medium Blue
Bloom Time: Mid Spring
Foliage: Grown for foliage Herbaceous Variegated Silver/Gray
Other details: Requires consistently moist soil; do not let dry out between waterings
Soil pH requirements: 5.6 to 6.0 (acidic) 6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic) 6.6 to 7.5 (neutral)
Patent Information: Patented
Propagation Methods: By dividing the rootball
Seed Collecting: N/A: plant does not set seed, flowers are sterile, or plants will not come true from seed
On Mar 10, 2013, emmaex from Bordelonville, LA wrote:
I have grown this beautiful plant successfully for two years in central Louisiana. It has survived the Louisiana summers without apparent stress. I think the location is key to the plant thriving. It is planted in full shade with a northern exposure heavily mulched with pine straw.
On Apr 9, 2012, echinaceamaniac from (Clint) Medina, TN (Zone 7b) wrote:
It can't take the heat here. I have tried 4 plants and not one has survived. They should stop selling these in the southern states. It is a beautiful plant though when it is alive. However, this plant also attracts foliar nemotodes. This is a plant that can't tolerate hot summers. It will go dormant in the summer leaving empty spots.
On Mar 5, 2012, Kat88 from Atkinson, NH (Zone 5b) wrote:
I have had four Jack Frost Brunneras for about 3 years now. Wonderful plants !! I have them along my front walkway, in part sun from morning til about noon, then they have afternoon shade. I don't need to start watering them until about June , but since I plant annual (Elfin Violet) impatiens in the same bed with them, I just water them all at the same time. I've also found if I cut back the flower stems right after the first bloom, I'll get a few more flowers again around August !! They are one of my absolute favorite perennials !!
On Apr 9, 2011, RabbitSoup from Fort Wayne, IN wrote:
Does very well in morning sun, afternoon shade. The foliage is stunning all season long, the blooms are just a nice bonus. They did so well the first year that I was able to divide and share. They look like you fussed over them, but no fussing is required. Only wish I had room for more.
On Nov 19, 2009, bonehead from Cedarhome, WA (Zone 8b) wrote:
A stunning plant for the shade, with dainty true blue flowers to boot. I got a small start from my sister and it filled in quite well the first season.
On May 20, 2009, anelson77 from Seattle, WA wrote:
I don't know where this plant has been all my life. I tried it out in a damp, shady spot where I was having trouble growing non weedy plants. It has spread into a nice sized patch already. I love both the foliage and the forget me not flowers (but without forget me not weediness and mildew)
On May 31, 2008, Kubileya from Laurel, DE (Zone 7a) wrote:
This is the second year in my garden for 'Jack Frost.' The silvery foliage and bright blue flowers are absolutely beautiful and really light up their corner of the garden. It needs constant, even moisture. Letting it dry out leads to brown, crispy spots on the leaves (I admit I've done that once or twice).
On Dec 22, 2007, a5footsea from North Vancouver, BC (Zone 7b) wrote:
This is one of my favourite perennials for shady areas. Their bright blue flowers bloom reliably, even in deep shade. I have several and all are now more than 36 inches wide after 3 seasons. They look great beside blue Hostas, Dicentra spectabilis "Gold Heart" and the orange/golden Heucheras.
On Feb 8, 2007, Bellisgirl from Spokane, WA wrote:
I love this plant! This will be my third year growing it. I got a start of it from my neighbor. At first I thought it might be hard to grow and need constant care, but its actually quite the opposite! It seems to thrive under little or no care. It does need well-drained and perpetually moist soil though. But the soil is not very rich. Mine is in almost full shade. The leaves are gorgeous, and liven up the gloomiest of shade gardens. Has lovely blue forget-me-not like flowers in the spring. Love it!
On Jun 8, 2006, SongsofJoy from New Hampshire, NH (Zone 5b) wrote:
Love this plant. Bought three last year and they just finished flowering. Everyone who saw it in bloom commented on how pretty it is. Looking for more, but it does not seem to be readily available at local nurseries.
On Apr 19, 2005, kooger from Oostburg, WI (Zone 5b) wrote:
Planted this one last spring and it didn't get as large as I thought it would but I was delighted to see it did not winter-kill. I'm going to try water it more often this summer.
On Dec 29, 2004, Joan from Belfield, ND (Zone 4a) wrote:
This is my first year with the Jack Frost Brunnera, but it did really well. I have it planted in a shady spot near an evergreen tree, and it's very happy.
Additional info added to this note 1-21-06:
Plant will produce highly variable self-sown seedlings. Green seedlings should be weeded to prevent them from taking over.
On Nov 13, 2004, doss from Stanford, CA (Zone 9b) wrote:
This is the first year for Jack Frost in my garden. It is in a very dark corner under redwood trees, next to ferns, ajuga, etc. It just lights up that corner so your eye is drawn to a beautiful place in the garden that might otherwise be lost.
Jack Frost grows in the shadiest part of my garden and it's color makes it a highlight in the shadows. I grew three to see how they would do and I'm buying more. Here it was only dormant about a month. Highly recommended.
This perennial plant was discovered at Walters Gardens in Zeeland, Michigan USA and recently won First Prize at Plantarium in Holland for Best New Perennial of the Year.
It was originally spotted in a flat (tray) of Brunnera m. 'Langtrees' and has large heart-shaped leaves with the veins highlighted in silver making this sport very distinct.
Brunnera 'Jack Frost' makes a clump 18 inches wide of rounded frosty looking silver leaves and is topped with tiny clusters of clear blue flowers in early spring and prefers moist, rich soils to grow the best plants.
On Aug 28, 2003, Happenstance from Northern California, CA wrote:
Slow grower, but has held up well with more sun than recommended and seemed not to mind the 3 weeks of 100+ temps.
May 2004 - The large showy leaves return as the bloom cycle winds down.
Regional...
This plant has been said to grow in the following regions:
, Calistoga, California Clayton, California Fairfield, California San Jose, California San Leandro, California Scotts Valley, California Stanford, California Bozrah, Connecticut Laurel, Delaware Boise, Idaho Bloomington, Illinois Chicago, Illinois Crystal Lake, Illinois Edgewood, Illinois Edwardsville, Illinois Machesney Park, Illinois Mount Prospect, Illinois Olympia Fields, Illinois Plainfield, Illinois Fort Wayne, Indiana Homecroft, Indiana Portland, Indiana Bassett, Iowa Inwood, Iowa Hebron, Kentucky Louisville, Kentucky Bordelonville, Louisiana South China, Maine Darnestown, Maryland Frederick, Maryland Rockville, Maryland Bridgewater, Massachusetts Dracut, Massachusetts Ann Arbor, Michigan Dearborn Heights, Michigan Grand Rapids, Michigan Holland, Michigan Lincoln Park, Michigan Royal Oak, Michigan Fridley, Minnesota New Hope, Minnesota Carson City, Nevada Greenfield, New Hampshire Nelson, New Hampshire Bridgewater, New Jersey Clinton Corners, New York Hudson, New York Elizabeth City, North Carolina Raleigh, North Carolina Belfield, North Dakota Bolindale, Ohio Columbus, Ohio Coshocton, Ohio Fruit Hill, Ohio Highland Heights, Ohio Ravenna, Ohio Hoot Owl, Oklahoma Portland, Oregon Salem, Oregon Coraopolis, Pennsylvania East Norriton, Pennsylvania Laflin, Pennsylvania Hendersonville, Tennessee Charlottesville, Virginia Jolivue, Virginia Leesburg, Virginia Lexington, Virginia Alger, Washington Highland, Washington Inglewood-finn Hill, Washington Kalama, Washington Lake Goodwin, Washington Langley, Washington (2 reports) Mountlake Terrace, Washington Pullman, Washington Seattle, Washington Twisp, Washington Vancouver, Washington Ellsworth, Wisconsin Minocqua, Wisconsin Wind Point, Wisconsin
12 vendors have this plant for sale.
