This plant used to be called
“lungwort” because its spotted leaves resembled diseased lungs and, in the
homeopathic tradition of folk medicine, were thus supposed to be able to cure
diseased lungs. Fortunately the plant has more demonstrable virtues. It spreads
vigorously by creeping rhizomes, its broad leaves make it very attractive as a
ground cover planting and on top of that it bears beautiful clusters of tube
shaped flowers in spring, which generally open pink and turn to blue, resulting
in both pink and blue flowers in the same cluster.
Pulmonaria angustifolia is
low growing under 10 inches and has leaves that are not spotted; popular
varieties are Johnson Blue and the white Alba. P. saccharata, called Bethlehm
sage, grows as tall as 15 inches. There’re so many gardeners whose like the
variety and whose blue flowers and spotted leaves are both large and very
showy. If you find you get along well with pulmonarias, there are a number of
other, less familiar species worth trying.
Well, if you want to grow
Pulmonaria, then you need a truly shade loving plant and will wilt in sun. Even
the morning sun that mine gets makes it wilt in hot weather. Soil need not be
rich, but it should be full of organic matter to help it to hold moisture.
Plants are easily divided in early spring but should be watered well after
transplanting. Source: Charismatic Planet
