Siberian brunnera

Family Boraginaceae. A plant of the forests of the Altai and Sayan.

One of the best spring plants, larger and more spectacular than the large-leaved brunnera. The rhizome is long, up to 1 cm thick. Stems are solitary up to 60 cm tall with sparse, glandular pubescence. Siberian brunnera forms not a separate tuft, but a thicket of leaves. Basal leaves on long petioles, thick, wrinkled on the upper surface, cordate; stem leaves almost lanceolate, sessile. Dark blue flowers with a white eye, up to 0.5 cm in diameter, are gathered in complex paniculate inflorescences rising above the leaves. Blooms for 25 days from May to June. Fruits are nutlets.

Interestingly, unlike the large-leaved brunnera, in this species the leaves become covered with dark spots and wither after flowering ends. But at the end of summer (mid-August) new leaves begin to grow, which persist until the first frosts. Like any forest plant, Siberian brunnera prefers moist, shady places. This plant is often damaged by brown spot disease.