How to Grow and Care for Lungwort

Lungwort is a flowering perennial hardy in zones 3 through 8, with fuzzy, green- or silver-speckled basal leaves and funnel-shaped flowers in blue, pink, and pink that bloom in the spring. This clumping groundcover performs best when planted in late summer or fall from nursery plants, though spring planting is also generally successful.

Lungwort Care

Caring for lungwort is fairly straightforward. Plant it in partial sun, as lungwort enjoys shade. Water regularly and keep the soil moist. Protect lungwort from extreme temperatures, and fertilize it annually.

Planting

Transplant lungwort in late summer or early fall so that it has all winter to establish itself before emerging in spring. Choose a location in partial sun or full shade, avoiding full sun. Dig a hole larger than the rootball of the plant, place the plant in it, and backfill with soil. Water well.

Light

Lungwort is typically grown in partial sun to full shade. Harsh direct sun in hot weather can wilt the plant and scorchits leaves, but too much shade can minimize the plant's blooms.

Soil

Lungwort plants prefer to grow in organically rich, humusy soil that remains moist. Dry soil can cause the plants to decline and go into dormancy, but soggy soil can encourage root rot.

Lungwort will perform poorly when soil pH strays outside the 7 to 8 range, preferring neutral to alkaline soil. The shift in flower color from pink to blue is because the plants pH levels change as the growing season progresses.

Water

These plants need a moderate amount of moisture and struggle in soil that is too dry or too wet. Water whenever the soil begins to dry out due to drought, but don’t overwater to the point that the plant is sitting in soggy soil.

Temperature and Humidity

Lungwort plants thrive in mild temperatures and are challenged in hot climates. They start growing as soon as the danger of frost has passed in the spring. Hot summer weather might cause them to wilt; however, they should perk up again once the cooler temperatures of fall arrive.

Fertilizer

Lungworts don't require frequent or heavy fertilization, which can reduce flowering. In the early spring, sprinkle a small amount of all-purpose garden fertilizer around the plant. Mixing compost into the soil can also help to promote healthy growth.

Types of Lungwort

Most lungwort varieties sold for garden use are cultivars of hybrids created by cross-breeding key species, especially P. saccharata,P. angustifolia, andP. longifolia. The exact parentage is often unclear, and these cultivars are often simply labeled Pulmonaria.New cultivars appear regularly, but some current favorites include:

• 'Blue Ensign': This very early bloomer has cobalt-blue flowers and solid dark green leaves.
• 'Raspberry Splash': This variety shows dramatic clusters of raspberry pink and soft lavender flowers, with dark green leaves speckled with silver.
• 'Shrimps on the Barbie': This variety has pink flowers and long green leaves speckled with silver.
• 'Trevi Fountain': This version has unusually large cobalt flowers and longish medium-green leaves with silver spots.
• 'Majeste': This cultivar has pinkish flowers that gradually turn blue-violet. The leaves are long and lance-shaped, silver-gray with green margins.
• 'Excalibur': This clump-forming plant has silver leaves and long-lasting violet-blue flowers.
  
• 'Spilled Milk': This hybrid has the familiar pink-transitioning-to-blue flowers. Young leaves are tinged purple, changing to white as they age.
• 'Roy Davidson': This plant has dark green leaves with silver-white spots; the flowers are pale blue.
• 'Smokey Blue': This plant has silvery spotted foliage with pink flowers that turn blue.
• P. officinalis 'Sissinghurst White': This plant has long, speckled leaves with pale pink buds that open to pure white blooms.
• 'Spot On': This plant has silver-speckled foliage and salmon buds that transition to blue flowers.

Pruning

Removing the entire flower stalkand the degraded leaves will encourage the plant to rejuvenate with fresh growth. You can also prune off leaves that degrade from especially hot or dry weather, as needed.

Some gardeners choose to simply mow off the tops of the plants as they go dormant during the dry, hot, midsummer period. If kept well-watered, the plants will rejuvenate as the weather cools.

Propagating Lungwort

Most modern Pulmonaria varieties arehybrids that are not generally propagated from seeds. Instead, propagation is best accomplished by root division:

1. After a mature plant is done flowering, carefully dig up the entire root ball while keeping the roots intact.
2. Wash off the dirt to expose the roots.
3. Gently pull apart the clump with your fingers, separating the roots into pieces. Discard woody sections.
4. Replant the divisions and water them in thoroughly.
   

Potting and Repotting Lungwort

Growing lungwort in pots or containers is not worth the trouble. The plants will not perform as well as they would in a moist, shady garden location.

Common Pests & Plant Diseases

Lungworts don’t have any notable pest or disease problems. But they can be prone topowdery mildew andslug damage, which results in abnormal and damaged foliage.

Powdery mildew is not generally fatal, but it can be treated with a spray fungicide.

Overwintering

Lungwort is best covered with mulch after the ground freezes in the winter. This will moderate freeze-thaw cycles and ensure that roots survive the winter. This is especially necessary in zones 3 and 4, where winters can be quite bitter with rapid cycles between temperature extremes.

How to Get Lungwort to Bloom

Lungwort is grown primarily for its foliage but has attractive flowers. To get lungwort to bloom, provide the right amount of sun and shade, keep the soil consistently moist, and maintain proper soil pH levels.

Bloom Months

Lungwort blooms towards the end of winter to early spring.

How Long Does Lungwort Take to Bloom?

Lungwort blooms quickly once it flowers, but flowers fade quickly, leading to the beautiful foliage the plant is known for.

What Do Lungwort Flowers Look and Smell Like?

Lungwort's flowers are bell- or funnel-shaped with five petals, usually starting out pinkish in color then maturing to a violet blue. Flower color, however, can vary by species and cultivar. Lungwort has a sweet, watery smell that many compare to a cucumber.

How to Encourage More Blooms

Removing dead leaves and growth can not only make lungwort more visually appealing, but also it can prolong the bloom period.

Common Problems With Lungwort

Lungwort needs fairly precise conditions to flourish, but if those are provided, they are easy to grow and will give you few problems. However, gardeners who are new to this plant are sometimes troubled by the way it dies back when the weather turns hot and dry in midsummer. This is fairly natural with this plant and not a cause for concern. Cutting back the plants and keeping them moist (but not soggy) usually encourages them to return as hot summer weather begins to cool in the fall.

From: thespruce