You'll be singing in praise of the blues when you plant Brunnera macrophylla 'Jack Frost'. Its beauty and adaptability recently won kudos from the Perennial Plant Association when the group named it Perennial Plant of the Year. There's plenty to admire about this year's winner.

Hardy in Zones 3 to 8, 'Jack Frost' is a shade-tolerant perennial with a neat, mounded form. A perfect addition to borders, beds, and containers, its silvery-green foliage is topped with pretty, cornflower-blue flowers in early to mid-spring. Plant in soil that retains moisture well without getting soggy. And if you have a problem with deer, you can rest easy: They don't like the rough texture of the leaves.

Combine this unique Brunnera with ferns, hostas, Alchemilla, Tiarella, Epimedium, and other shade-loving plants for best effect. If you have a dark spot in your garden, 'Jack Frost' will brighten it right up!

Photo courtesy of perennialresource.com.

Brunnera macrophylla 'Jack Frost' from Wayside Gardens.