Lungwort

Sun

Partial shade or light, open shade. Morning sun is suitable in cool climates; protect it from hot afternoon sun.

Water

Keep the soil evenly moist, particularly during establishment and summer dry spells. Avoid waterlogged ground.

Soil

Humus-rich, moisture-retentive but well-drained soil. Tolerates a broad pH range, including chalky soil improved with organic matter.

Height

0.5-1 ft (0.15-0.3 m)

Spread

1-1.5 ft (0.3-0.45 m)

Flowers

Early to mid-spring; pink buds open into funnel-shaped flowers that usually change to violet-blue, giving a two-colour display.

Foliage

Rough, hairy green leaves marked with pale silver-white spots. Basal leaves become larger after flowering; foliage may persist in mild winters but dies back in colder climates.

Growth

Moderate; forms gradually expanding clumps and may self-seed.

Care needed

Low

• Water during dry spells before the leaves begin to wilt, especially beneath trees.
• Apply a thin layer of garden compost or leaf mould in spring, keeping it clear of the crown.
• Avoid heavy feeding; compost is usually enough on reasonably fertile soil.
• Divide crowded clumps after flowering or in early autumn, and water the divisions thoroughly.
• Remove unwanted seedlings while small; their leaf markings may differ from the parent.

Pruning. Cut spent flower stems to the base after flowering. Remove badly mildewed or scorched leaves to encourage fresh growth, but do not strip a dry, stressed plant unless you can keep it watered.

Late winter

Remove collapsed old leaves carefully without damaging emerging flower shoots.

Early spring

Top-dress with compost or leaf mould and check moisture around plants growing beneath trees.

Late spring

Cut off spent flower stems; divide established clumps after flowering if needed.

Summer

Water during dry spells and remove badly mildewed leaves.

Early autumn

Plant or divide clumps while the soil is moist and temperatures are mild.

Late autumn

Remove rotting foliage, but leave healthy leaves in place.

• Edge shaded paths with spotted foliage that remains useful after the flowers fade.
• Plant beneath deciduous shrubs with snowdrops and small daffodils for a succession of spring flowers.
• Combine with hostas and ferns, whose later growth fills the space around the spring display.
• Use small groups at the front of woodland borders to contrast with dark foliage and fine-textured plants.

Garden styles it suits: Woodland, Cottage garden, English country, Wildlife garden, Blues and silvers and Secret garden.

Plant it with: Hostas, Ferns, Hellebores, Snowdrops, Siberian bugloss and Epimediums.

Wildlife: Early flowers provide nectar and pollen for bumblebees and other spring-active bees.

• Powdery mildew: white patches develop on leaves, especially when roots are dry. Water the soil, improve spacing and remove badly affected leaves.
• Slugs and snails: young leaves and shoots may be eaten. Inspect after dark, remove pests and use wildlife-conscious controls where necessary.
• Summer scorch or dormancy: hot sun and dry soil can cause browning or early leaf loss. Provide afternoon shade, mulch and water during prolonged dry weather.
• Crown rot: plants decline in persistently wet soil. Improve drainage and avoid burying the crown or piling mulch against it.

Not generally regarded as poisonous to people, cats, dogs or horses, but species-specific ingestion safety is poorly documented. Do not treat the leaves, flowers or roots as food or use them in home remedies. The rough hairs can irritate sensitive skin.

• Bethlehem sage (Pulmonaria saccharata)

  Often has more densely silver-marked leaves, but the species overlap considerably in appearance. Many garden lungworts are hybrids, so foliage alone may not establish their identity.

• Siberian bugloss (Brunnera macrophylla)

  Has broad, heart-shaped leaves and sprays of tiny, flat blue flowers rather than lungwort's clustered, funnel-shaped flowers.

• Common comfrey (Symphytum officinale)

  Grows much taller, with large, usually unspotted leaves and drooping tubular flowers on branched stems.

Pulmonaria comes from the Latin for lung, referring to the spotted leaves' supposed resemblance to diseased lungs, while officinalis reflects its historical medicinal use.

Propagation. Divide established clumps after flowering or in early autumn, retaining healthy roots and growing points on each piece. Fresh seed can also be sown, but seedlings vary and may hybridize with other lungworts nearby.

Accepted botanical name

Pulmonaria officinalis

In the US and Canada

Introduced in Canada.

Native range

Albania, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary and Italy.

Measured

Soil pH 7 to 7.5. Average height 23 cm.

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0), USDA PLANTS and Trefle (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.