Lungwort Plant: 5 Simple Tips for Lungwort Care

Lungworts (botanical genus Pulmonaria) are perennial plants notable for their dark green leaves with silvery-white spots and variegated flower colors. Lungworts are borage plant types, descending from the Boraginaceae plant family.

The underground rhizome of this semi-evergreen plant allows herbaceous, showy new growth to bloom afresh each year. The bloom time of lungwort plants is in the early spring, and it will stay viable until the first frost of the winter. They grow best in USDA Hardiness Zones 3–8.

Lungwort plants come in a variety of different colors and styles. These are just five types you can add to your garden:

1. 1. Pulmonaria angustifolia: This type of narrow-leaved lungwort plant is particularly notable for its vibrant blue flowers. It’s most prominent in Europe.
2. 2. Pulmonaria officinalis: Also known as common lungwort or Jerusalem cowslip, this plant has pink buds that give way to stunning pink flowers with shades of purple.
3. 3. Pulmonaria saccharata: Sometimes called Bethlehem lungwort or Bethlehem sage, this lungwort plant’s leaves are even more prominently spotted than many of its relatives.
4. 4. Pulmonaria ‘Sissinghurst White’: As the name would suggest, this cultivar of Pulmonaria saccharata has white flowers.
5. 5. Pulmonaria 'Trevi Fountain’: This lungwort cultivar displays purple flowers and uniquely spotted leaves and grows in abundant clumps.

Lungwort largely takes care of itself, but it still needs your watchful eye and green thumb to achieve its full potential. Here are five core lungwort care tips:

1. 1. Boost with food. New plants require fertilizer and food at the start of their growing season. Consider using a slow-release liquid fertilizer alongside some mulch and organic matter for your new lungwort plants.
2. 2. Give them moist soil. Lungwort plants need moist, humus-rich soil to grow to their fullest potential. Clay soil, in particular, can help lungworts flourish. Make sure not to plant them too close to any other prominent root networks in your garden, as they crave a lot of moisture and don’t like sharing it.
3. 3. Plant in a shady spot. Lungworts are shade plants and grow far better in a fully shaded garden than in a yard constantly exposed to full sun. Realistically, you must strike a balance, as the afternoon sun will leave you with only partial shade in almost any area of the world. Plant them amid other ground cover or in a shady area of your garden, and they should be able to thrive.
4. 4. Prune when necessary. Eventually, the mild weather of early to late spring will give way to the cloudy chill of winter—and you’ll have to prune your lungwort plants. Cut the dead foliage down to the roots once it begins to discolor. You can rest assured it will come back beautifully next year.
5. 5. Ward off pests. Lungwort plants are a target for slugs and snails, so keep an eye out for their appearance in your garden. Use a repellent to prevent them from showing up in the first place. Lungwort is also susceptible to powdery mildew, so be ready to remove any infected areas immediately if you spot mold.

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