Growing Guide: How To Grow Lungwort (Pulmonaria)?

Lungwort (Pulmonaria) is a perennial plant favored in gardens for its captivating blooms and exceptional foliage. Named after the mottled leaves, it is a charming addition to shade gardens and woodland settings in spring and early summer. Do you want to know how to grow Lungwort yourself? We’ll explain it to you in this guide.

Quick Guide:

• Planting season: Spring planting

• Blooming season: Spring to early summer

• Place: Partial shade to full shade

• Soil: Moist but well-drained soil, neutral to alkaline

• Water: Water thoroughly after planting

• Fertilizer: Lungwort doesn't need much fertilizer. Add compost to the soil when planting

• Mulch: Well-rotted leaf mould or compost for extra protection during the winter

Lungwort: A Perennial Plant Favored In Gardens

With pink, blue, white, or purple flowers and mottled foliage, Lungwort provides a splash of color in shade (rock) gardens and woodland settings. Its ability to thrive in a shady spot makes it one of the best foliage plants for challenging outdoor locations. As a perennial, the Lungwort plant is deer-resistant and will return yearly, providing long-lasting beauty with minimal maintenance. These benefits make this plant not only a favorite of gardeners for their spring garden, but also pollinators love them.

Fun fact: Lungwort is part of the Boraginaceae family.

What Is Another Name For Lungwort?

Lungwort is best known under the name Lungwort, but the plant is also called Pumonaria, Bethlehem Sage, Jerusalem Cowslip, and Spotted Dog.

5 Lungwort Varieties

Lungwort comes in various stunning forms, each with its own unique appeal. In this section, we’ll highlight five varieties to help you find the perfect fit for your garden:

1. Pulmonaria Smokey Blue: Pulmonaria Smokey Blue can transform your shady garden areas with its striking violet-blue flowers that elegantly evolve into a soft pink. It has dark green leaves with small dots.

2. Pulmonaria Silver Bouquet: Pulmonaria Silver Bouquet has pointed, silver leaves (silver-speckled foliage) and evolving blooms that change from pink to cobalt blue flowers. It's an excellent ground cover.

3. Pulmonaria Sissinghurst White: The pure white flowers of Pulmonaria Sissinghurst White complement the green spotted, narrow leaves in the spring garden.

4. Pulmonaria EB Anderson: Pulmonaria EB Anderson shines with vibrant blue flowers that emerge from red buds. It complements gardens with its textured appearance and butterfly-attracting blooms.

5. Pulmonaria Pierre's Pure Pink: Pulmonaria Pierre's Pure Pink has salmon-hued bell-shaped blooms and silver-speckled leaves. It thrives in shaded areas and provides a vibrant contrast to the often muted tones of these areas.

When To Plant Lungwort?

Lungwort flowers in spring to early summer, so you need to plant the bare roots as soon as you receive your package in (early) spring. This will give them time to establish roots before the heat of summer. At DutchGrown, we start shipping to the warmest hardiness zones in the spring and work our way to the cooler areas by mid-spring.

Where To Plant Lungwort?

Lungwort is a shade-loving plant, meaning it prefers partial to full shade. It’s best to plant the bare roots in a shady border that benefits from the shade of trees. Avoid too much sun. Ensure the ground is moist and well-drained, with a neutral to alkaline pH. Dry soil can cause plants to go dormant, while wet soil can cause root rot.

How To Plant Lungwort?

Has your DutchGrown package with Lungwort bare roots arrived in spring? Then, it’s time to plant. Follow these steps:

1. Unpack your bare roots as soon as you receive them.

2. If the roots are dry, soak them in water for a few hours before planting. Trim any damaged or excessively long roots.​​

3. Choose shady locations in your garden with well-draining soil.

4. To improve fertility and drainage, loosen the soil to a depth of 12–15 inches (30-38 cm) and mix in compost or well-rotted manure.

5. Dig a hole and plant the bare roots about 1–2 inches (2,5-5 cm) deep and 12–18 inches (30-45 cm) apart. Position the plant so the crown (where the roots meet the stem) is level with the soil surface.

6. Spread the roots out in the hole and backfill with soil, gently firming it around the roots.

7. Water thoroughly after planting.

Lungwort Plant Care

After planting the bare roots, it is important to keep the Lungwort plants in good condition. Proper care is essential. If the soil begins to dry out due to drought, water it but avoid overwatering. Remove spent flowers to encourage new growth and possible reflowering. Cut back dead foliage at ground level in the fall. Mulch annually with well-rotted leaf mould or compost for extra protection during the winter.

Good to know: Although Lungwort is a low-maintenance plant, watch for slugs and powdery mildew.

How To Propagate Lungwort?

Lungwort can be propagated by division after flowering or in the fall. Dig up the plant and break it into smaller parts, making sure the leaves and roots are attached. Discard woody sections. Next, plant these parts in a partially shaded or fully shaded spot in your garden and water well.

Explore A High-Quality Lungwort Collection At DutchGrown

With its diverse varieties and captivating blooms, Lungwort (Pulmonaria) is an ideal choice for adding color and texture to your garden. Do you want to add these beautiful flowering plants to your garden? DutchGrown has a stunning collection of Lungworts. Discover them now and plant your new bare roots in the spring for a colorful woodland garden. We ship from Holland to all over the US.