Sterling Silver Siberian Bugloss (Brunnera macrophylla 'Sterling Silver')
brun-ERR-ah mak-roe-FY-lah 'Sterling Silver'

Deciduous Perennial Mounded in the Boraginaceae Family
A compact, early Walters Gardens introduction with silver-veiled leaves and strong heat tolerance -- a cross of 'Alexander's Great' and 'Diane's Gold'.

Brunnera macrophylla 'Sterling Silver' (US Plant Patent 31,280) was bred by Hans A. Hansen at Walters Gardens from a 2015 cross using a proprietary selection of 'Alexander's Great' as the female parent and 'Diane's Gold' as the male parent. It forms a dense, mounded clump of leaves with silver between the veins and narrow dark green tracing the veins themselves, more compact than its large-leaved sibling 'Queen of Hearts' but sharing its improved heat tolerance.

Light blue flowers bloom for about four weeks each spring. 'Sterling Silver' is hardy to USDA Zone 3.

Pros

  • Compact, well-behaved mounding habit
  • Silver foliage with fine dark green veining
  • Improved heat tolerance compared to older Brunnera selections
  • Deer resistant and hardy to USDA Zone 3

Cons

  • Needs consistent moisture, especially in its first season
  • Foliage can scorch if grown in too much direct sun
  • Less dramatic leaf size than siblings like 'Jack of Diamonds' or 'Queen of Hearts'
Highlights Foliage of Interest Heat Tolerant Deer Resistant
 

Plant Data

Mature Size 12 - 18 inches tall. 18 - 24 inches wide.
Sun Exposure Full Shade - Partial Shade
Moisture Tolerance Medium - Wet
Zones 3a - 8b (Usually hardy to -40° F)
Tags Attracts Butterflies, Attracts Pollinators, Attracts Wildlife, Colorful Foliage, Container, Deciduous, Deer Resistant, Edging, Fast Growth Rate, For a Shady Spot, Formal Garden, Full Shade, Good for Accents, Good for Asian Garden, Good for Beginners, Good for Borders, Good for Cut Flowers, Good for Mass Planting, Good for Rock Garden, Groundcover, Grown For Attractive Foliage, Low Maintenance, Medium, Naturalizing, Non-Allergenic, Normal Soil, Partial Shade, Perennial, Rabbit Resistant, Showy Flowers, Tolerant of Moist Soil, Well-Drained Soil, Wet, Wet Site Tolerant, Winter Interest, Woodland Garden
Bloom Period April to May
Flower Color Light Blue
 

In The News

Commonly Planted with...

Pairs well with other shade-loving natives such as wild ginger, Solomon’s seal, woodland ferns, and native sedges, or with hostas for a contrast of leaf shapes.
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Pricing and Availability History

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Past Availability
2025 : 04/13 - 09/20
2024 : 05/09 - 08/24
2023 : 06/01 - 08/27

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Field-Grown vs. Greenhouse-Grown Plants

Plants which are well-adapted to our local climate are most often field-grown (outside). Field-grown plants are generally cheaper and have the advantage of already somewhat acclimated to our cold winters, but that means they’re not artificially far along in the spring and tend to bloom at the normal time in our area.

Spring annuals and tender perennials are typically grown in Greenhouses so they can be ready and luxurious exactly when customers want them. Some perennials are also “forced” into early bloom in greenhouses. In May, there can be a very big difference between field-grown and greenhouse-grown plants of the same type. The latter typically look good right away (so they’re a great choice where that’s important), but we typically pay a premium for it.


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No Pricing or Availability Right Now

We order from a rotating cast of the best nurseries in the Great Lakes region. It looks like we've offered this plant in the past, but the nurseries we're working with this week don't appear to have it in stock at the moment.

Our goal is to bring as many plants together under "one roof" as possible, so we'll try hard to make it available again in the future!