Common Lungwort

Common Lungwort Care

Pulmonaria Officinalis

What is the plant

Lungwort is a very early spring blooming plant with a somewhat unfortunate common name. So named because the leaves are lung-shaped, lungwort was indeed once used medicinally to treat lung ailments. But today, this plant is known mostly as a perennial landscape flower that will bloom in the early spring before most other flowers. Many gardeners now refer it by its genus name, Pulmonaria. It's a woodland plant and prefers a shady, moist location.Pulmonaria is a low growing plant, although the flower stalks can reach 18 inches. Bees love the blossoms. Its oval, pointed leaves can be solid green of varying intensity or variegated with spots or splashes of white. The leaves have a layer of fuzz on them and the color variations make them look like they were splashed with bleach.

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Humidity

Normal

Lighting

Shade

Hardiness zone

4 - 8

Difficulty

Medium

Hibernation

Cold Period

How to Care for the Plant

Water
Lungworts need only a modest amount of water, but should not be allowed to dry out completely. Because they grow in the shade, the soil tends to stay moist for longer than it does in harsh sun; but when the soil does dry out, water thoroughly to a depth of 10 to 12 inches.
Pruning
After flowering, the flower stalks turn brown and flop over, and the initial leaves also begin looking tattered. Removing the entire flower stalk and the older leaves will encourage the plant to rejuvenate and look fresh again. More de-leafing may be necessary if the summer weather is particularly hot or dry.
Fertilizer
Lungworts don't require frequent or heavy fertilization. In the early spring, sprinkle a small amount of all-purpose garden fertilizer, such as 10-10-10, around each plant.

Disease diagnosis

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Sunlight
Pulmonaria is best grown in a part-shade to full-shade location, but it can tolerate quite a bit of sun in the early spring. Keep in mind that most trees have not leafed out when lungwort blooms in early spring and the weather is still cool and damp. It's fine to grow lungwort in a spot that will eventually be shaded when the trees leaf out. Spring sun is not as strong as summer sun, so the leaves of other plants will protect the Pulmonaria once the sun gets stronger. Plants can tolerate more sun if they are kept moist.
Soil
Pulmonaria plants do well in soil with a pH in the neutral to alkaline range. More important is providing them with a well-draining soil that retains moisture just long enough for the roots to soak it up. These plants will struggle in soil that is too dry or too wet.
Temperature
These plants will start growing as soon as all danger of frost has passed. They do not like hot and humid climates. The plants may wilt in periods of hot, humid weather and perk up again in fall.