Lungwort, known botanically as Pulmonaria, is a perennial flowering plant prized for its early spring blooms and attractive foliage. It produces clusters of small, trumpet-shaped flowers that often shift color from pink buds to blue blossoms as they mature. The foliage is equally valued, frequently featuring unique silver spotting or mottling against a deep green backdrop, making it a popular groundcover for shaded garden spaces.
The Origin of Pulmonaria
The common garden plant Pulmonaria is not native to North America. The genus originates in Europe and Western Asia, where various species thrive in deciduous woodlands. For instance, commonly cultivated types like Pulmonaria officinalis and Pulmonaria saccharata are naturally found throughout central Europe, including regions like France and Italy.
These species prefer cool, moist environments beneath the forest canopy, which dictates their use in shaded gardens globally. Although not indigenous, Pulmonaria is widely cultivated in the United States and Canada, and in some areas, it has become “naturalized,” meaning it has escaped cultivation and established self-sustaining populations in the wild.
Native Plants Sharing the Name
Confusion about Lungwort’s native status arises because the common name is applied to multiple, unrelated North American plants. The most frequent source of misidentification is Mertensia virginica, or Virginia Bluebells, which is sometimes called “Smooth Lungwort.” Virginia Bluebells are native to eastern North America and share the Pulmonaria family (Boraginaceae) and its characteristic pink-to-blue flower color transition.
However, the native Mertensia is a spring ephemeral; its foliage emerges and blooms early but dies back completely by mid-summer. This contrasts with cultivated Pulmonaria, which typically retains its distinctively spotted, semi-evergreen foliage throughout the summer and into the winter. Furthermore, the common name “lungwort” is also applied to Lobaria pulmonaria, a large, leafy lichen that grows on tree bark in humid North American forests.
Cultivation and Care
Successfully growing Pulmonaria requires mimicking its native woodland environment. The plants perform best in partial to full shade, as intense sun can quickly scorch the leaves or cause the plant to wilt. They require consistently moist, humus-rich soil that drains well, ideally with a neutral to slightly alkaline pH.
Dry soil is detrimental, often leading to the leaves developing powdery mildew late in the season. Applying a layer of organic mulch, such as well-rotted leaf mold, helps maintain soil moisture and keeps the roots cool. The early spring blooms provide a valuable source of nectar for pollinators, including early-emerging bees and hummingbirds. Once flowering ends, spent stalks should be trimmed back to focus energy on producing healthy foliage.