Pulmonaria Shrimps on the Barbie - Lungwort

The Pulmonaria 'Shrimps on the Barbie' forms an effective full or semi-shade ground cover, which enlivens the undergrowth from the end of winter with its salmon-pink flowers. Its tender green foliage, semi-evergreen and abundantly marbled with silver, brings a graphic touch under bushes and trees, in a humus-rich soil, not too dry in summer and well-drained.

The pulmonaria 'Shrimps on the Barbie' belongs to the large family of Boraginaceae, which offers many shade or semi-shade ground covers such as small borage or comfrey. Pulmonarias are mostly plants of edges and undergrowth, in which they flourish very early, before the trees have leaves that prevent light from reaching the ground.

The variety 'Shrimps on the Barbie' forms a low clump about 25 cm (10in) high and 60 cm (24in) wide. Early, it illuminates the flower beds from March to June depending on the region with its charming bell-shaped flowers in a slightly salmon-pink colour gathered in clusters. This effect is enhanced by the wonderful association with the tender green foliage marbled with silver. The leaves, thick and covered with stiff hairs, are semi-evergreen, and are ignored by slugs as well as rabbits. This variety is also quite resistant to powdery mildew, a fungal disease that causes grey spots to appear on the leaves in dry weather.

The 'Shrimps on the Barbie' pulmonaria will look beautiful in the undergrowth, at the foot of bushes or trees (with not too competitive roots, however). It will thrive in a rather humus-rich soil, where it can slowly spread through short surface rhizomes. The soil may occasionally dry out once the clump is well rooted. Do not hesitate to divide it regularly to accelerate its propagation. You will thus obtain a very bright ground cover. It is also possible to use it to garnish the edge of a shaded alley, or to brighten up the base of a wall.

It can be advantageously associated with other early blooms, such as the narcissus 'Katie Heath', salmon-orange, the Brunnera 'Mr Morse', the Chionodoxa luciliae 'Glory of the Snow' etc. It can also be paired with other undergrowth plants such as the nodding cranesbill 'Clos du Coudray', or the lady fern 'Lady in Red'.