Yardenman - If you wanted to divide it, you can take stock of the root system to determine the best course of action. Now would be a good time to divide and replant (in general) with summer heat behind us. The cooler temps help roots get established before winter. If you decide to do this, keep the divisions watered (but not wet) until you get a freeze.

Yardenman, know what you mean about conflicting advice (often it reflects gardening in different locations), but sometimes the perennials themselves have to take some of the blame for failure.

An old gardener's adage: if you want to know where to plant a plant, buy three, plant them in three different locations and the plant will tell you where you should have planted it.
Suspect that this refers, at least in part, to micro-environments within gardens.
Still, short of dry, full shade, I do find many perennials still do OK in rather different growing conditions.

Almost all our own Brunnera get soil with a good organic content, protection from the sun in summer and weekly watering in the absence of a fair bit of rain.
Otherwise I'd say the Brunnera cultivars we have are not very demanding plants to grow and do well.
And we've had 'Jack Frost' longer than any other Brunnera cultivar.

I've not had problems overwintering (outside, in a protected place) divisions of many potted perennials, including Brunnera.
I suspect planting directly, after division, in the garden is best.
I (re)plant any time but in summer it's especially important to keep an eye on the watering of the plant(s) involved..
Suspect the best time for me to divide and replant is early in our long fall with it's rain.

At the same time, we've left an (established) Brunnera 'Langtrees' (parent of 'Jack Frost') in a bed we never water, between our's and the neighbouring house, for years.

Sorry, forgot to post this response, Yardenman.

Excellent advice from Cindy.

Re overwintering in pots; it always amazes me that so many perennials do so well after spending the winter, frozen solid in garden soil, in pots which were left out in a protected place and buried in snow.
The only danger I've seen here is having certain perennials rot in the pots in spring.
Am guessing that means these pots should have been moved out into the spring sun sooner.

Shadegardener and SunnyBorders - Thank you for the advice. I have fearlessly chopped up "some" perennials and moved them fearlessly, but have hesitated with the Jack Frpst Brunerra, as it was my only one.

But looking at it carefully, it seems to be in 3 individual parts now. So I have going to take my sharp spade and take 2 parts out now carefully and replant them in the most similar situations I can see in improved soil'

Thank you for the advice. I was very uncertain about disturbing the Brunerra. I have coddled that baby for a decade but I agree it can be divided.

And if it doesn't work, I won't blame you. *I* am making the decision.

Yardenman - I totally understand your hesitation. I'm can be brutal dividing some plants (like Epimedium) but others I tiptoe around or procrastinate. Good luck!

Ironically I've been watching my little Jack Frost for several years not realizing it was supposed to get big enough to divide. I bought three more this spring and although we have had a lot of heat they seem happy enough. The soil is well composted and mulched. We have had a tremendous amount of rain lately. The plants have grown from the three inch pots that arrived from Bluestone. I'll keep an eye on them. If they don't do well, I'll remember that other varieties may do better in the heat.

These died last year here. They aren't any more heat tolerant than Jack Frost. They did not return this year either. I just think these plants are meant to grow in cooler parts of the world. Our heat and humidity are just too much for them. I will update my original post.

I had problems growing it until I put it in almost total shade. It gets about an hour of sun in the evening,

In my garden it likes dark moist shade all summer. It stayed small for 3 yrs in dry shade but when I put it in dark shade it has become a monster. I have to divide it every two years or it takes over my hostas.

I only have success dividing it in early Spring, when it is cool,and lots of rain. If I divided it later Spring the divisions died quick.

Mine came back nicely this year. Also put in an area that is bright but no direct sunshine and the area stays pretty moist.

Was thinking Jack Frost but maybe Sea Heart, both of which I have had in this area! Or maybe another one.

I'm interested in getting some Brunnera so this seems to be a good place to ask a few questions.
1. Where is a good mail order site to buy them?
2. Anyone notice which has the most flowers or that last the longest?
3. Anyone have emerald mist?
Thank you in advance

Think we still have eight different Brunnera cultivars, all purchased as plants in garden centres. Over the years have lost a couple of other cultivars. Brunnera are certainly survivors in our garden.

Have had the 'Emerald Mist' for perhaps ten years.
Picture taken in fall (Nov 1, 2021), after the taller summer and fall perennials have been cut back.


Re flowering, the amount may be influenced by the precise location of individual plants in the garden. For what it's worth, I noticed the most flowering on a 'Dawson's White' (have a number of them) and the 'Diane's Gold' (have one) last spring.
(Both pictures May 7, 2021)



That 'Dawson's White' above is one of those resulting from division (being pulled apart to eliminate reversions) which we were previously talking about.

A couple of personal gripes: the 'Alexander's Great' really is a bad seeder in our growing conditions. At least it doesn't also seem to run, like the species, Brunnera macrophylla. I must be a bit of a traditionalist with Brunnera: don't really like 'Diane's Gold'. To me, it looks a bit sickly!

Thank you so much for the info. I don't know why i thought i had to decide on one color and buy only that. Your yard sounds beautiful, and makes my choice much easier. I can buy them all!
I am planting a blue flower or leaves garden this year, which I've wanted forever. Too bad brunnera doesn't have one with blue leaves.

tk, sounds like you think like me!
viz. buy them all.

Of course, that leaves concerns about bank account and then having to look after them all.

Like so many gardeners, I'm a big fan of blue in the flower beds.

@Texaskitty it is a pity that you can't grow Delphinium in Texas. You could treat them as annuals. I know a great supplier.

Who's the great supplier?

@texaskitty111, my source for over ten years are Amanda and Mark Shenstone @
gracefulgardens.com
You can't beat their prices. Tell them I sent you.

Thank you Mike. Alas. they don't ship to OR which is where I am now

@Texaskitty111