Brunnera 'Variegata' will really light up a shady corner of the garden. Its clumps of soft, hairy, heart-shaped leaves are splashed with cream-white at the edges, and vivid green in the centre. The leaves form a dense and lush mound, which remains attractive throughout the entire growing season. Then, don’t forget, there are the flowers: clouds of bright blue forget-me-not blooms appear from mid-spring. These blooms keep on coming, often for 8-10 weeks, and sometimes again at the end of summer. These nectar-rich flowers are known for attracting bees.

This easy-to-grow plant could be a star or your border for 7 months of the year. Grow Brunnera macrophylla 'Variegata' in moist but well-drained soil in part shade – although it will tolerate deeper shade (keep out of direct sun, as the white leaf edges will scorch). Planting several plants together gives you ideal ground cover, especially for shady areas of the garden.