Pulmonaria or lungwort has a
particular place in my affections as it one of the first plants ever to
bring itself to my attention as a child.
It was the only plant of any note to hold
its own in the patch of heavy, shaded, neglected clay soil by the front
door of my home when I was young. The white spotted hairy green leaves
and wonderful blue and red flowers on the same plant at the same time
seemed to come from another worldly place where adverse conditions meant
exotic things could grow.
The names Pulmonaria and lungwort come
from the leaf patterning superficially looking like a lung and leading
to a belief that this meant it could be used to cure lung ailments
(there appears to be no such evidence).
They perform best in spring, by summer
they are looking rather tatty and the old leaves are best removed after
flowering (yes I said remove the leaves after flowering). They are
perhaps not worthy of the best positions, but provide good ground cover
for positions in dappled shade.
Can be propagated by seed, but best not
to bother as the results are too varied. Lift and divide after flowering
or take root cuttings in the fall.
