General description
Pulmonaria can be herbaceous or semi-evergreen rhizomatous perennials with terminal clusters of funnel-shaped flowers in late winter or early spring, and often strikingly patterned leaves developing in summer
P. officinalis is a semi-evergreen perennial to 30cm tall, with broad leaves spotted freely with greenish-white, and clusters of flowers opening pink and soon changing to blue, in spring.
Ultimate height
0.1-0.5 metres
Ultimate spread
0.1-0.5 metres
Time to ultimate height
2-5 years
Plant requirements
Sunlight
Part shade
Full shade
Aspect
North-facing, West-facing or East-facing
Sheltered
Cultivation
Grow in humus-rich, fertile, moist but not waterlogged soil in full or partial shade
Soil
Moist but well-drained
Acid, Alkaline or Neutral
Clay, Chalk or Loam
Maintenance
How to care
Pruning
Remove old leaves after flowering
Pests
Generally pest free
Diseases
May be subject to powdery mildews in dry conditions
Propagation
Propagate by division after flowering or in autumn
Practical use
Banks and Slopes, City/Courtyard Gardens, Coastal, Cottage/Informal Garden, Flower borders and beds, Ground Cover or Wildlife Gardens, Good for the bees.