Pulmonaria - Springtime Charmers in the Perennial Flower Border

Most gardeners first encounter Pulmonaria with the old standard 'Mrs. Moon'. This is a charming little plant with lance-shaped deep green leaves spotted with small white moons. The buds start out pink and open to an azure blue.

A low growing perennial flower

Leaves: with oval, pointed leaves. Leaves can be solid green, of varying intensities or variegated with spots or splashes of white.

Flowers: The small funnel shaped flowers come in vivid clear shades of white, blue and pink. Many will change color, as they mature and are pollinated.

Pulmonaria

Common Name(s:) Lungwort

Height: 10 - 14", Spread: 18"

Shade to Partial Shade. Can tolerate more sun if kept moist.

Early Spring. Pulmonaria is one of the first perennials to bloom.

Pulmonaria are a natural for shady woodland gardens. The white flowered varieties really glow against the green foliage.

You can also plant them in a sunny border, among later maturing perennials, for a shot of spring color. Pulmonaria can handle full sun in the spring and the leaves of taller, summer perennials will provide shade for them, later in the season..

For a winning combination, they look especially beautiful planted with the delicate foliage and soft pink flowers of fringed leaf Dicentra.

Pulmonaria 'Excalibur' - A clump former with silver leaves and long lasting violet-blue flowers. Mildew resistant.

P. officinalis 'Sissinghurst White' - Long, speckled leaves with pale pink buds that open to pure white

P. 'Spilled Milk' - Has the familiar pink to blue flowers. Young leaves are tinged purple, changing to film of white as they age.

Pulmonaria is a large genus with some form that will grow almost everywhere. Their season is early spring, when most other plants are barely poking out of the ground. Breeders have had a good deal of fun with Pulmonaria in recent decades. They flower in wonderful brilliant blues, pinks and white. The leaves can be solid green, speckled or completely frosted white.

Pulmonaria is a low growing plant, although the flower stalks can reach a foot and a half. Bees love the blossoms. Most varieties will self seed as well as spread by rhizomes, so they make a nice choice as a ground cover.

Pulmonaria are basically a woodland plant and prefer either shady location or at least a moist one.

Maintenance: After flowering, the flower stalks turn brown and flop over. The initial leaves also begin looking tattered. A removing the entire flower stalk and the older leaves will encourage the plant to rejuvenate and look fresh again. More de-leafing may be necessary if the summer is hot or dry.

Because they grow in moist conditions and low to the ground, Pulmonaria can be prone to mildew and slug and snail damage.

More on adding blue flowers to your garden.