Brunnera macrophylla 'Jack of Diamonds' Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS
Siberian Bugloss 'Jack of Diamonds'

Brunnera macrophylla 'Jack of Diamonds'

£16.99
Hardy in the UKShade-tolerantLoved by pollinators
Pot size
19cm / 3L £16.99

FREE tracked delivery on orders over £60

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Description

Brunnera macrophylla 'Jack of Diamonds' is one of the most striking silver-leaved selections of Siberian bugloss, prized for its enormous, frosted, heart-shaped leaves. Each leaf is washed in shimmering pewter, traced with fine green veins and edged by a narrow green margin, so a single established clump lights up the darkest, most awkward corners of a shady garden. In mid to late spring, dainty sprays of clear blue, forget-me-not flowers float above the foliage, which is why it is often sold as a false forget-me-not.

Why gardeners love it

  • Some of the largest, most luminous leaves of any brunnera, reaching the size of a side plate
  • Airy clouds of true-blue spring flowers loved by early bees, a quiet favourite for wildlife and pollinators
  • Excellent, low-maintenance ground cover for dry shade once established

As a clump-forming hardy perennial, 'Jack of Diamonds' is the perfect partner for ferns, hostas, hellebores and woodland bulbs, and one of the boldest brunneras you can grow among our hardy exotics. Mature plants reach around 40 to 50 cm tall and spread slowly to 50 to 60 cm, making a generous yet well-behaved mound rather than a runaway spreader, ideal for the front of a shady border.

Grow it in partial or full shade in humus-rich, moisture-retentive but well-drained soil. It is happy on chalk, clay, loam or sand at almost any pH, though it resents both waterlogging and prolonged drought. A spot with morning light and afternoon shade keeps the silvering at its brightest, while too much hot sun can scorch the leaf edges. Mulch with leaf mould in autumn to lock in moisture and feed the crown. Fully hardy across the UK (RHS H5), this Siberian bugloss dies back in winter and reappears dependably each spring, needing no protection.

Every Brunnera macrophylla 'Jack of Diamonds' we send out is nursery-grown, well-rooted and carefully selected for strong foliage and healthy crowns, ready to establish quickly and reward you with that unmistakable silver glow.

Live Arrival Guarantee

All plants are covered by our 7-day live arrival guarantee. We pack every order in protective, sustainable packaging designed to keep your plants safe in transit, and every plant is checked before it ships. On the rare occasion something is not right on arrival, we will make it good, provided the plant is still in its original nursery pot.

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What to Expect

Seasonal by nature: what to expect

  • Grown outdoors, the way nature intended. Weather-tested and hardened in real UK conditions, so they thrive in your garden. A few marks on the older leaves are normal, the sign of a tough, real plant rather than a flaw.
  • It follows the seasons. Depending on when you order, your plant may arrive cut back, dormant or leafless. That's healthy: dormancy is the ideal time to plant.
  • Posted, not posed. Big leafy plants like bananas and gingers may be trimmed or gently folded to travel safely. It does the plant no harm, and it powers away again in spring.

Not sure what to expect from yours? Dormant, cut-back or weather-marked plants are all perfectly healthy and normal. Read what to expect through the seasons

Delivery & returns

Order by 1pm Monday to Friday for same day dispatch. Every plant travels in protective, plant-safe packaging with tracked delivery.

Changed your mind? See our Return Policy.

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How to care for Siberian Bugloss 'Jack of Diamonds'

Give me sun with a little shade and I will stand a UK winter outdoors.

In their words

What our customers say

Arrived just like the photos - maybe even fuller. Healthy, well-acclimated, and straight into my collection with no issues.

Emily P.

Flawless leaves, stunning variegation, and clearly cared for by experts. It’s already a talking point in my home office.

James R.

Hard to find rare plants that are pet-safe. Ours arrived in perfect condition and looks amazing without any worry.

Sophie L.
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About Siberian Bugloss 'Jack of Diamonds'

Brunnera macrophylla 'Jack of Diamonds' needs partial shade and moist but well-drained soil. It is hardy to around −15°C and stands a UK winter outdoors.

Good for

Exotic Borders Shade Wildlife & Pollinators

Hardiness

TenderVery hardy

Hardy Exotic (H5): down to around −15°C. Hardy through a cold UK winter.

Fully hardy across the UK (RHS H5), withstanding around minus 15C once established. The foliage dies back in winter and the plant resprouts reliably from the crown each spring, so no winter protection is needed in the open garden. Read moreShow less

Fully hardy across the UK (RHS H5), withstanding around minus 15C once established. The foliage dies back in winter and the plant resprouts reliably from the crown each spring, so no winter protection is needed in the open garden.

Position

Partial shadeNorth-facingEast-facingWest-facingSheltered
Happiest in partial to full shade. Morning sun with afternoon shade is ideal, but avoid hot, exposed midday sun, which can scorch the silvered leaves and dull their lustre. Read moreShow less

Happiest in partial to full shade. Morning sun with afternoon shade is ideal, but avoid hot, exposed midday sun, which can scorch the silvered leaves and dull their lustre.

Soil

ChalkClayLoamSandMoist but well-drainedAcid pHAlkaline pHNeutral pH
Grow in humus-rich, moisture-retentive but well-drained soil. It tolerates chalk, clay, loam and sand at any pH. Adding leaf mould or garden compost at planting helps it settle and keeps the roots cool. Read moreShow less

Grow in humus-rich, moisture-retentive but well-drained soil. It tolerates chalk, clay, loam and sand at any pH. Adding leaf mould or garden compost at planting helps it settle and keeps the roots cool.

Watering

Keep the soil evenly moist through the first growing season, watering deeply during dry spells until established. Once settled it copes with short dry periods, though prolonged drought can cause the leaf edges to brown. Read moreShow less

Keep the soil evenly moist through the first growing season, watering deeply during dry spells until established. Once settled it copes with short dry periods, though prolonged drought can cause the leaf edges to brown.

Mature size

Height0.4-0.5 m
Spread0.5-0.6 m

Reaches full size in 2-5 years

Growth habit

Clump-forming

Flowering

Apr-May · Blue

Seasonal colour

Foliage

Deciduous

Pruning

Cut spent growth back to the crown. Shear off the faded flower stems after spring blooming and remove any sun-scorched leaves through summer.

Toxicity

No reported toxicity; generally considered non-toxic to people and pets, though the bristly leaves may cause minor skin irritation in sensitive individuals.

Native range

Garden origin (species native to Eastern Europe to Western Siberia)

Family

Boraginaceae

Also known as

Brunnera macrophylla 'Jack of Diamonds'

Genus

Brunnera
Good to know

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Brunnera 'Jack of Diamonds' hardy in the UK?

Yes, it is fully hardy throughout the UK (RHS H5) and shrugs off hard frosts. It dies back over winter and returns reliably from the crown each spring, so no lifting or protection is required.

Where is the best place to plant it?

Plant it in partial or full shade in moist, humus-rich soil. It is superb in a woodland border, beneath shrubs and trees, or along a shady north or east-facing bed where its silver leaves brighten the gloom.

How big does 'Jack of Diamonds' get?

It is a vigorous, large-leaved selection forming a clump roughly 40-50 cm tall and 50-60 cm across, with individual heart-shaped leaves that can reach the size of a side plate.

Is it evergreen?

No, it is a deciduous herbaceous perennial. The foliage fades and dies back in autumn, then fresh silver leaves and airy blue flowers appear again in spring.

Can I grow it in a pot?

Yes, it grows well in a container of moisture-retentive compost kept in shade. Pots dry out faster than open ground, so water regularly and avoid letting it bake in full sun.

Does my plant come with a pot?
Your plant will arrive in its nursery grow pot — the plastic pot it's been growing in. We don't include a decorative pot as standard, and there's a good reason for that: it means you get to choose one that fits your space and style, rather than being stuck with something that doesn't suit your home.

It also means you're not paying extra for a pot you might not want. The nursery pot is perfectly fine to keep your plant in for a while, just pop it inside a decorative cover pot or cache pot and you're good to go. When you're ready to repot (usually after a growing season or when roots start poking out the bottom), you can move it into something more permanent with fresh soil.

If you're not sure what size cover pot to go for, check the pot selector tool listed above, you'll want a decorative pot that's a centimetre or two wider than that to give it a comfortable fit.
How big will my plant be when it arrives?
Every plant on our site includes the pot size (e.g. 12cm) and, where possible, an approximate height. That's the most reliable way to set your expectations, photos can sometimes make a plant look larger or smaller than it really is.

If you're thinking "that sounds quite small for the price," here's something worth knowing: younger, smaller plants almost always adapt better to your home than larger ones. They adjust faster to your light and humidity, put out new growth more quickly, and tend to establish stronger root systems long-term. A plant that grows into your space will usually outperform one that was already big when it arrived.

That said, every plant is an individual. The one you receive may vary slightly in height, shape, or fullness compared to the photo, that's the nature of living things, not a quality issue. We select healthy, well-established specimens, and if you ever feel your plant doesn't match what you were expecting, just get in touch and we'll take a look.
What makes your plants different from the supermarket or garden centre?
There's a big difference between a plant that's been sitting under on a retail shelf and one that's been looked after and cared for by people who specialise in exactly this.

Our plants are grown in house or sourced from specialist nurseries, many of them varieties you simply won't find at your local garden centre or supermarket. Before anything leaves us, it's checked over by our horticultural team to make sure it's healthy, well-rooted, and ready to thrive in your home. We're not shifting volume off a pallet, we're choosing plants we'd want to keep ourselves.

When you buy from a supermarket, you get a plant and a generic care label. When you buy from us, you get the knowledge that comes with it, detailed care guidance, a team you can actually contact if something isn't going right, and the confidence that what's arriving has been looked after properly from the moment it was grown to the moment it reaches your door.

We're a specialist nursery first, not a retailer that happens to sell plants. That's the difference, and you'll see it the moment you open the box.
What should I do when my plant arrives?
First things first, unbox it as soon as you can. Plants don't love being in dark boxes any more than you would, and the sooner yours is out and breathing, the better.

Remove all the packaging carefully, give the soil a check with your finger, and water lightly if it feels dry. Then find it a spot with appropriate light, but avoid putting it straight into harsh direct sun or next to a radiator. Think of it like arriving somewhere new after a long journey: it needs a moment to adjust.

It's completely normal for your plant to look a little tired or droopy after transit. This is called transit stress, and most plants bounce back within a week or two. You might see a yellow leaf or some drooping, don't panic, and resist the urge to overwater or start repotting straight away.

Our advice for the first couple of weeks: leave it in its nursery pot, water it only when the top layer of soil feels dry, and let it acclimatise to your home's light, temperature, and humidity. Once it's settled in and showing signs of new growth, you can think about repotting or moving it to its permanent spot.

Every plant we sell comes with a care guide on the product page so you'll know exactly what it needs going forward. And if anything doesn't look right, get in touch with our team, we're always happy to help.
Will my plant survive being shipped?
Yes! and we go to serious lengths to make sure of it. Every plant is hand-packed by our team with protective wrapping and secure, custom-designed boxes to keep it stable and safe in transit. We've shipped hundreds of thousands of plants across the UK and our packaging methods have been refined over years to handle the bumps and jolts of delivery.

During colder months, we monitor weather forecasts and offer heat packs where needed to protect against frost. In extreme conditions, we may hold your order for a day or two rather than risk sending it out, we'd rather you wait an extra day than receive a stressed plant.

That said, plants are living things, and the occasional transit wobble can happen. If your plant arrives damaged or isn't in the condition you'd expect, just get in touch within 48 hours with a photo, and we'll make it right, whether that's a replacement or a full refund. No fuss.

The short version: we treat every box like it's going to someone who really cares about what's inside, because it is.
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Packaged with Care

Packaged with Care

Every order is hand-packed in eco-friendly, protective packaging - refined through thousands of deliveries to ensure your plant arrives healthy, hydrated, and looking its best.

Backed by our Live Arrival Guarantee.

Perfect for Gifting

Perfect for Gifting

From rare collector’s pieces to easy-care favourites, our plants arrive fully potted and ready to enjoy. Add a personalised note at checkout for a thoughtful finishing touch.

Delivered fresh, beautiful, and gift-ready.

Sustainability at Heart

Sustainability at Heart

All plants are ethically sourced from trusted growers, never wild-collected. Every order ships carbon-neutral in minimal-waste packaging.

Good for your home - and the planet.

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