This plant is definitely more than meets the eye. Usually by the time the nurseries and garden centers are opened in the spring, they are rarely in bloom, and are often quickly dismissed. It is difficult to describe how each little bell-shaped bloom stars out a rich pink, gradually turning color to a royal purple and finishing with a blue bang! This is what really attracts people to it. An added bonus is the fact that it is one of the earliest flowers available to hummingbirds when they arrive from the south for the summer. The foliage is spectacular in and of itself. Whether it is spotted, stripped or white, the cultivars are endless nowadays. For foliage interest, this is your best bet for a shade bed especially if you are looking for something to lighten up a green area of your shade garden and create some impact at the same time.
 Although it is said that Lungwort can tolerate sunny conditions, be aware that, as the season heats up, it needs to be kept moist; otherwise the leaves will brown and tire. You will then need to cut the foliage back to the ground and wait for new growth. This will keep the plant fresh looking for a longer duration. If it happens to be at the front of a bed, it may leave a fairly large looking gap for awhile but does not take long to fill in again. If this is done directly after flowering, it will prevent powdery mildew and self-seeding. It does not take much time for the Lungwort to catch up in size with the other plants after a good trim. Lungwort is also very easy to divide or move in either early spring or early fall while the temperatures are cool to avoid foliage dieback.
Once Pulmonaria was only valued for its medicinal attributes for curing digestion and bronchial problems by ancient herbalists; in today's' world, it is loved for its' beautiful contribution to the beloved shade garden and pollinators alike.
Written by: Dianna Dawson 2008 |
