Pulmonaria officinalis - Lungwort

The Pulmonaria officinalis is an early perennial that forms a fabulous ground cover for shady beds, bringing a touch of light. One of the first smiles of spring with its pink bells evolving into blue and mauve, which overlook a carpet of long, evergreen, elliptical leaves, medium green mottled with silver.

The Pulmonaria officinalis is a herbaceous perennial belonging to the same family as borage and brunnera, the Boraginaceae family. This perfectly hardy plant of European origin is widespread in our cool woodlands. It had a reputation for treating tuberculosis according to the theory of signatures, which highlights the resemblance of its leaves to lung alveoli, hence its name Pulmonaria.

This rhizomatous plant forms a 30 cm (12in) high flowering carpet and spreads laterally without theoretical limits. The leaves are villous, those at the base are lanceolate, pointed at the top and rounded at the base, while those of the floral stems are alternate, elongated and without petioles. Between March and May, angular, branching stems covered in coarse hairs emerge from the foliage. They bear pendulous cymes of tubular flowers in lilac pink that evolve into a lovely blue before fading to mauve. The creeping rhizome of pulmonarias produces new tufts of leaves after flowering, expanding the colony.

This perennial pulmonaria is completely hardy and is mainly used as a ground cover. In winter, in well-protected areas, its foliage is often evergreen. It will quickly add a colourful touch to exhausted soil under trees, bushes, along facades or north or east-facing alleys, at the base of sunless walls. This plant is a blessing where few plants are willing to grow, like Symphytum caucasicum and the great periwinkle. It beautifully fills shady beds and even manages to grow under conifers. Plant some spring bulbs alongside your pulmonaria that will flower here and there. Also, consider fillilng your bed with ground covers that flower later, like perennial Geranium nodosum.