A Comprehensive Guide to Growing and Caring for Flowering Lungwort

Lungwort, scientifically known as Pulmonaria spp., is a beautiful flowering perennial that thrives in USDA Hardiness Zones 3 to 8. Despite its unflattering name, lungwort boasts charming silvery-white speckled leaves and clusters of pink and blue blossoms that make it a lovely addition to shady areas in your garden.

In this detailed guide, we will delve into the cultivation and history of lungwort, explore various species and cultivated varieties, and provide valuable tips on how to grow and care for this plant in your garden.

What You’ll Learn

Here’s a preview of the topics we’ll cover:
– Cultivation and History
– Propagation
– How to Grow
– Growing Tips
– Pruning and Maintenance
– Cultivars to Select
– Managing Pests and Disease
– Best Uses
– Quick Reference Growing Guide

Let’s kick things off with some interesting background information.

Cultivation and History

Originating in Europe and Asia, lungwort has a rich history dating back to the 1600s. The “Doctrine of Signatures” associated medicinal properties with plants that resembled human body parts. Lungwort’s speckled foliage that resembled diseased lungs earned it the Latin name Pulmonaria and the common name lungwort.

This species made its way to America over two centuries ago and is also known as Bethlehem sage, Jerusalem cowslip, and soldiers and sailors. With approximately 15 species in the Pulmonaria genus, many gardeners cultivate about a third of them, including hybrid varieties with improved traits such as mildew resistance and color variations.

Characterized by upright, clumping growth, lungwort features distinctive hairy or hairless elliptical to lance-shaped leaves that can be green, silvery-white, or flecked with silvery spots. Initial pink buds mature into blue, pink, purple, red, or white funnel-shaped blossoms, adding a colorful touch to your garden.

Plants range from six to 18 inches tall and 12 to 30 inches wide, depending on the species and cultivars. Lungwort naturalizes easily via rhizomes, with some hybrids being sterile to prevent self-sowing.

Now, let’s move on to propagation, an essential step in growing lungwort successfully.

Propagation

To propagate lungwort, you can choose from seeds, divisions, or potted nursery plants. Here’s how to go about each method:

From Seeds

While many hybrid cultivars are sterile, you can still find true species seeds to sow directly in the soil after the last frost date in early spring. Lean planting guidelines are vital due to the seeds’ tiny size, and starting seeds indoors beforehand can provide a head start on the growing season.

By Division

Dividing existing plants in early summer after flowering, late summer, or early fall allows you to create new lungwort plants. Remember to transplant divisions immediately after dividing to promote healthy growth.

From a Nursery Pot

Opting for potted nursery plants provides a hassle-free way to kickstart your lungwort growing journey without the hassle of seed germination or division.

With your lungwort plants ready for planting, let’s focus on the next step – how to grow them effectively in your garden.

How to Grow

Choosing a suitable spot for your lungwort plants is crucial for their wellbeing. While lungwort thrives in partial shade, it can tolerate morning sun or full shade. Ensure that the soil is moisture-rich, well-draining, and slightly alkaline with a pH of 7.0 to 7.5 to provide ideal growing conditions.

Working the soil well and planting lungwort at the correct depth with sufficient spacing ensures healthy growth and flourishing plants. Deep watering and occasional fertilization with a balanced N-P-K blend, such as 10-10-10, support lungwort’s growth and vigor.

To make your lungwort growing journey a success, remember to:
– Select a partially shaded location
– Provide organically-rich, moist, well-draining soil
– Water deeply when necessary
– Fertilize sparingly for optimal growth

Growing Tips

Here are some useful growing tips to ensure your lungwort plants thrive:
– Choose a partially shaded spot
– Plant in organically-rich, moist, well-draining soil
– Water deeply as needed
– Fertilize sparingly with a balanced granular product

Pruning and Maintenance

After the blooming season, it’s essential to trim spent flower stems to stimulate foliar growth and maintain the plant’s aesthetics. Dividing lungwort plants every few years prevents overcrowding and ensures healthy growth. Ensure proper watering to prevent dormancy signs like yellow foliage and potential root rot.

Come late fall, cutting back foliage and providing a layer of organic mulch before winter ensures your lungwort plants remain healthy until the next growing season.

Cultivars to Select

For an enhanced gardening experience, various lungwort cultivars offer unique features and aesthetics. Some recommended cultivars include ‘Cevennensis’ with dark violet-blue blossoms, ‘Hairy’ with pink buds transitioning to blue, and ‘Raspberry Splash’ with bright raspberry-pink blooms.

Exploring different lungwort cultivars adds diversity to your garden and introduces new colors and features. Keep an eye out for exciting options that suit your preferences and growing conditions.

Managing Pests and Disease

While lungwort is generally resilient to pests and diseases, moist, shady conditions can attract slugs, snails, and issues like powdery mildew and root rot. Preventative measures such as avoiding oversaturation, overcrowding, and providing optimal growing conditions help deter pests and control common diseases.

Vigilance in monitoring your plants for signs of pest infestations and diseases allows for early intervention and effective management to maintain plant health and vitality.

Best Uses

Lungwort’s versatility makes it an excellent choice for ground cover, erosion control, border plantings, or accent plants beneath trees or shrubs. Its compatibility with other shade-loving plants like hellebore, heuchera, hosta, ferns, and iris makes it an ideal choice for mixed plantings.

Whether grown in a rock garden, woodland setting, or as a standalone feature, lungwort’s distinctive foliage and charming blossoms add elegance and color to your garden landscape. Moreover, its tolerance to deer, rabbits, and toxic compounds from black walnut trees make it a robust and low-maintenance plant for various garden settings.

In Summary

Lungwort, with its captivating foliage and vibrant blossoms, offers a delightful addition to shady garden spaces. By understanding its cultivation requirements, effective propagation methods, and essential care practices, you can successfully grow and maintain lungwort in your garden.

Whether you’re a beginner gardener or a seasoned plant enthusiast, exploring the diverse lungwort species and cultivars adds depth and beauty to your garden landscape. By implementing the growing tips, pruning techniques, and pest management strategies discussed in this guide, you can enjoy a flourishing lungwort garden year after year.

Embrace the unique charm of lungwort in your garden and witness the delightful vibrancy it brings to your outdoor sanctuary.

With this comprehensive guide in hand, you’re well-equipped to embark on your lungwort growing journey and create a thriving garden sanctuary for yourself and your local pollinators.

Happy gardening! 🌿🌸