Pulmonaria - Lungwort

These spring-flowering perennials are a fantastic, easygoing addition to your garden at any time of year. Blooming pink, purple or white, they are hardy throughout the UK down to -20°C.

Commonly known as Lungwort, Pulmonaria can be spotted by the striking patterning on their leaves, and are valued for their bright, cheerful spring flowers. In ancient medicine, they were said to cure lung diseases due to a resemblance between their speckled leaves and diseased lungs. This may not be sound science, but the mythology remains in the common name. Popular with pollinators, add a splash of early-season colour with these compact perennials.

Scientific Name
Pulmonaria (lung-like plant)

Common Name
Lungwort, Jerusalem Cowslip

Origin
Native across Europe and Asia, from Gibraltar to Siberia.

Pruning Tips
Remove old leaves after flowering

Wildlife Value
Lungwort is great for pollinators and wildlife, attracting and feeding bees, butterflies and bee-flies with early-season forage, especially the hairy-footed flower bee.

Positioning
Partial to full shade is best; make sure it's sheltered from the wind.

Water
Keep the soil relatively moist, but make sure it's not overly soggy

Soil
Soil should be humus-rich and fertile. Ensure it drains reasonably well, so that it keeps the plant moist but not waterlogged. Chalk, clay or loam soils are best.

Food
Plant in fertile soil; giving a light spring feed, or adding compost to the soil this time of year, should give it enough nutrients to grow happily.

Pet-safe
No, this plant can be toxic to pets in large quantities.

Sprouts Top Tips
Lungwort can suffer in very dry soil or long periods of drought, so give them an extra water in longer dry spells.

Extras
The flowers on Pulmonaria change colour as they mature, so you may see pink and blue-purple flowers on a plant at the same time.