Lungwort - Pulmonaria officinalis

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Lungwort - Pulmonaria officinalis
© Susan A Tindall

Lungwort gives early and attractive spring flowers that open pink but soon change to intense blue as they mature, providing pollen for early bumblebees. The small trumpet-shaped flowers are arranged in loose terminal clusters.

The English name is derived from the white spots on the long blue-green leaves. These were thought to resemble the alveolar cavities of our lungs and so the plant was thought to be good for curing respiratory troubles. Lungwort is a hardy perennial that grows best in rich moist soil. It is naturalised in the wild on hedgebanks and waste ground near houses. It is an ideal groundcover plant in a shady garden. Many attractive garden varieties are available, with flowers ranging from white to pink and blue. They can be a good foil for taller spring bulbs. The flowers survive well once cut. Most garden varieties seem to be attractive to bees but it is likely that this species is the most prolific producer of pollen. It is not native but has naturalised widely.

Animals

Bees and wasps

Foliage	Green
Flower	Purple, March to May
Moisture	(Average)
Sunlight	(Part-shade)
Origin	Non-native