Most plants that set viable seed will seed around a bit if they are happy. Some plants can cover a fair amount of ground via self-sown seed. This is great, if you have ground you want covered; if not, these plants can become 'weedy' in the border. On the plus side, if you want more of this type of plant, all you have to do is gather the seed stalks and shake them over the ground you want them to cover, leaving Mother Nature to do all the work. If you want more control, you can cut the dried seed stalks and up end them in a paper grocery or shopping bag; shake vigorously to release the seed; discard the stalk and scatter the seed where you want it to grow by hand. Of course, you can also start the seed in pots, flats or a prepared seed bed and transplant the seedlings to their final locations. But, since I tend to have my hands full most of the time, I prefer to let 'MOM' do the work.
Brunnera
Brunnera macrophylla (Siberian Bugloss) is sometimes, incorrectly, referred to as Anchusa myosotidiflora. I imagine this is because the flowers are reminiscent of Forget-Me-Nots (Myosotis) in their size, form and intense blue color. In my USDA zone 7 garden, they start flowering in April and continue through May. There are a few weeks when their flowering coincides with Pulmonaria and Ajuga so that areas of my garden are covered in sheets of blue. Quite lovely, if I do say so myself.
Brunnera is a woodland member of the Borage family from the forests of the Caucasus mountains facing the Black Sea, and along its coast. Rated hardy from USDA zones 3 to 10, it is one of the plants that do not do well in the parts of zones 9 and 10 with high humidity. Its heart-shaped leaves expand after bloom, becoming as large as breakfast plates and remaining a feature all season. The stems are hairy. I find them uncomfortably prickly and always wear gloves when I work amongst them.
While reveling in moist, organic soil, Brunnera will tolerate dry shade. It is quite useful for covering ground under trees and large shrubs. I have noticed, however, that the leaves will become tatty in late summer where it is in dry ground. If this happens and gets on your nerves, you can cut the plant back to the ground and it will put out new leaves. They will not reach the size of the first lot, but will look fresh until frost. As far as I know, Brunnera does not re-bloom if deadheaded. Someone else may have different experience with this.
