Alexandria Brunnera
Alexandria Brunnera
Big Silver Leaves and Sky-Blue Spring Flowers for Shade
Alexandria Brunnera (Brunnera macrophylla 'Alexandria') dazzles in the shade garden with large, heart-shaped leaves heavily frosted in silver, accented by airy sprays of true-blue, forget-me-not flowers in spring. The luminous foliage lights up shaded beds all season, long after the flowers fade. Deer-resistant and reliably hardy, it's a standout for woodland and part-shade borders in Edina, Woodbury, and Maple Grove.
Alexandria Brunnera Plant Details
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Botanical Name | Brunnera macrophylla 'Alexandria' |
| Mature Size | 12–16 in. tall, 15–20 in. wide |
| Hardiness Zone | 3–8 (Twin Cities is zone 4b–5a — fully hardy) |
| Light | Part shade to full shade |
| Bloom Time | Mid to late spring |
| Flower Color | True sky-blue (forget-me-not) |
| Soil | Moist, rich, well-drained; amend clay with compost |
| Winter Hardiness | Reliable to -30°F once established |
| Deer Resistance | Rarely browsed — fuzzy foliage deters deer and rabbits |
| Foliage | Large, silver-frosted, heart-shaped |
Landscape Uses in Minnesota
Brightening shade gardens: The big silver leaves glow in shaded beds and light up dark corners all season. Space 15–18 inches apart.
Woodland borders: Beautiful with hostas, ferns, and bleeding heart. The spring blue flowers add an early lift.
Best Time to Plant in Minnesota
Plant in spring (late April–May) or early fall (late August–mid September) into rich, moist, shaded soil. Keep moist through establishment.
How to Plant Alexandria Brunnera
Dig a hole twice the root ball width at the same depth, mixing in compost. Set the crown level, backfill, water well, and mulch 2 inches deep. Space 15–18 inches apart. Site it out of hot afternoon sun so the silver foliage doesn't scorch.
Watering Alexandria Brunnera
First year: Keep evenly moist — water every 2–3 days at first, then weekly. Stop 2–3 weeks before the ground freezes.
After year one: Prefers steady moisture in shade; leaves may scorch in dry or sunny conditions.
Q: Does the silver foliage need shade?
Yes — give it part to full shade with steady moisture. Hot afternoon sun will scorch the leaves.
Q: Will it survive a Minnesota winter?
Easily — hardy to zone 3, returning each spring.
Q: Is it deer-resistant?
Yes — the fuzzy leaves are disliked by deer and rabbits.
Q: How are the flowers?
Airy sprays of true-blue forget-me-not flowers appear in spring, a lovely bonus to the standout foliage.
You May Also Like
Jack Frost Brunnera (Brunnera macrophylla): The famous silver-leaved, blue-flowered classic.
Hosta: A bold-leaved shade companion for contrast.
Japanese Painted Fern (Athyrium): Silvery fronds that echo the brunnera foliage.
How Many Alexandria Brunnera Do I Need?
Each plant forms a 15–20 in. mound, so space plants about 18 in. on center for a continuous silver groundcover in shade:
| Run length | Plants needed (18 in. spacing) |
| 10 ft | 7 |
| 20 ft | 14 |
| 30 ft | 20 |
| 40 ft | 27 |
As an accent, plant a cluster of 3–5 about 15–18 in. apart to edge a shaded path or front a woodland border.
Alexandria Brunnera Season-by-Season in Minnesota
- Spring: Silver-frosted heart-shaped leaves emerge with airy sprays of true-blue forget-me-not flowers — an early lift for shade beds and pollinators.
- Summer: The luminous silver foliage carries the show, brightening dark corners all season.
- Fall: Leaves hold their frosted color until hard frost.
- Winter: Dies back and rests underground, returning reliably each spring.
At a Glance
✔ Deer-Resistant ✔ Shade-Tolerant ✔ Pollinator-Friendly
Plant It With
- Alexander's Great Brunnera — the supersized silver brunnera for a layered, large-and-small pairing.
- Alba White Bleeding Heart — pure-white spring hearts above the silver leaves.
- Lady Fern — a graceful native fern for soft textural contrast.
- Japanese Painted Fern — silvery fronds that echo the brunnera's frosted foliage.
Is Alexandria Brunnera Right for Your Yard?
Alexandria thrives in part to full shade with rich, steadily moist soil out of hot afternoon sun — ideal for edging a shaded path, fronting a woodland border, or brightening a north-side bed, and reliably deer- and rabbit-resistant. It's not a fit for dry, sunny spots, where the silver leaves scorch at the margins.