Contents
Siberian Brunner (lat. Brunnera sibirica) is a perennial plant of the Borage family. It is used in decorative floriculture and landscaping. They are planted together with other crops, since by mid-summer, after flowering, the leaves dry up. By autumn, dense new foliage appears, which decorates the site until frost.
Description
Siberian brunnera is a herbaceous perennial. Grows in a wide cover, not a bush. The height of the stem is 25-80 cm. The leaves are large (10-20 cm), heart-shaped, grow densely, forming a continuous cover at a height of 40-50 cm from the ground.
The flowers are small, up to 1 cm in diameter, of a beautiful blue color, collected in racemose inflorescences. The flowering period is from April to June. After its completion, the leaves dry up, by the fall new ones appear, possibly re-blooming.
The fruit is a nut with no nutritional value.
The rhizome is located horizontally, has a thickness of up to 1,5 cm, filiform adventitious roots depart from it.
The Siberian Brunner is an excellent early honey plant. Dried aerial parts are used in folk medicine to treat inflammation accompanied by high fever, as a mild laxative. Leaves, stems and flowers are harvested during flowering and then dried.
The Siberian Brunner does not feel well during the dry, hot period.
Where grows
Brunner in its natural environment grows in meadows, edges of taiga forests, along the banks of streams. Its natural habitat is Southern, Western and Central Siberia. In parks and flower beds, it grows well next to other crops, including fruit trees.
It is used as an early flowering ornamental plant in landscape design in central Our Country and Europe. The plant is unpretentious:
- It tolerates well, shade, partial shade, in the southern regions it does not respond well to bright lighting.
- It does not require special care.
- It grows well on any soil, prefers areas with loose, well-moistened soil.
They are planted in group plantings in flower beds, along borders, to decorate rocky hills. In mixed plantings, pale pink tulips, darmer, Julia’s primrose, forget-me-nots and Goryanka are planted next to her.
Reproduction
The Siberian brunner is propagated by segments of rhizomes and seeds. The first method is more commonly used. In a short summer, in its natural habitat, the brunner does not always have time to give seeds; it is difficult to find high-quality planting material in stores.
Steps for propagating brunners with Siberian rhizomes:
- The plant is dug up after the end of flowering (in July-August).
- The soil is shaken off the roots, and then the remaining soil is washed off with water.
- Remove all rotten and diseased parts of the root system.
- The rhizome is cut at the branching points with a sharp knife into pieces 6 cm long, leaving at least one living kidney on each segment, but not more than six.
- Sections are treated with crushed coal.
- “Delenki” are planted in the soil, deepening by 2-3 cm.
- The soil is well watered.
After propagation by brunner rhizomes, it begins to bloom the very next year.
Sowing of seeds is carried out in open ground in late autumn. When spring sowing, stratification is carried out for 3-4 months. To do this, the seeds are placed in the fall in the refrigerator or tightly packed in a container or bag, then buried underground or in the snow.
To cut the rhizome, you will need a very sharp, pre-sterilized knife.
Planting and care
After planting, the brunners mulch the soil on the site. Used as mulch:
- sawdust;
- tree bark;
- coffee grounds.
This is where the care for the Siberian brunner ends. The plant needs watering only in very hot, dry summers. You can determine the lack of moisture by the condition of the leaves. They begin to dry up and wither. Plant nutrition is not required. The Siberian Brunner, unlike its relatives, is not afraid of weeds, and due to the horizontal occurrence of the roots, does not need loose soil.
Due to the rapid growth of the brunner, it can become a source of problems, like a real weed. To prevent this from happening, it is recommended to dig in a plastic border tape around the area where the brunner grows.
Trimming
The Siberian Brunner grows evenly, does not give high elongated shoots, so there is no need to form a crown. To maintain a decorative appearance, it is necessary to regularly inspect the plant and remove dried leaves and stems.
After the end of flowering, carry out a complete pruning, otherwise the dried leaves will spoil the appearance of the site. If you don’t feel like messing around, you can plant tall ornamental plants nearby: hosts and bergenia.
In autumn, before the first frosts, the leaves and stems are completely cut off, leaving small stumps above ground level.
Diseases and pests
The Siberian Brunner rarely gets sick. With a strong overflow or heavy rains, fungal infections can affect it: brown spot and powdery mildew. When spots appear on the leaves and stems, the damaged parts of the plant are removed and the Bordeaux mixture is treated every two weeks until the signs of the disease disappear.
Occasionally, the Siberian Brunner is affected by whiteflies and aphids. In this case, plantings are sprayed with a solution of “Karbafos” or “Aktellik”.
Preparation for winter
Brunner Siberian is frost-resistant. Its natural habitat is taiga forests. The plant tolerates Siberian frosts, so it does not need special preparation for cold weather. In regions with snowy winters, pruning is sufficient. Without snow, the rhizomes freeze through.
Photo in landscape design
Small blue brunner flowers attract attention and delight the eye for a month
The plant even before flowering serves as a beautiful decoration of the paths.
Brunnera grows well in the shade of trees and goes well with other plants, planting a garden even in late autumn.
The neat cover of the brunner goes well with other plants, and does not crawl out of the lawn.
Conclusion
Brunner Siberian requires almost no maintenance, but is able to revive a site where it is difficult to grow more capricious plants. That is why it has gained popularity in landscape design.
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