PerennialsDiscover the right perennial plants for your garden.
' Spot On ' lungwort . Photo by : Proven victor
Lungwort ( Pulmonaria ) is one of the first perennial to bloom in natural spring , often deal the spot with tulips and other springtime - flower bulb . But the other exhibit of pink and blue flowers is just the opening act for this showy shade lover . Once the blush fade , lungwort ’s striking dappled leaf takes center stagecoach , uprise wide and even more attractive as the time of year progresses .
In fact , if you have n’t paid tending to lungwort for a while , it ’s time to take a 2nd look at this old - fashioned woodland favorite , say Larry Hodgson , author ofPerennials for Every Purpose . “ While mostPulmonariaused to have reasonably average rosettes of green leaves , now there ’s a orbit of hybrids with foliage that are pick out or highly marbled with white or silver , giving the plants a much farseeing time of year of interest . ”
In addition to offering a panoptic array of leaf radiation pattern and diversification , many newer varieties ofPulmonariaalso have greater disease resistance , improved seniority , and more vibrant flower colors , qualities that gain them a staring role in any shady garden .
On this page : Basics|Planting|Care|Varieties|Design Ideas
BASICS
Botanical name:
Pulmonariaspp . and hybrid . The genus name is deduct from the Latin wordplumo , meaning “ lung , ” since the spotted leaves were thought to resemble , and even cure , diseased lungs .
Common names:
Lungwort , Bethlehem sage , Jerusalem cowslip , spotted dog . ( Not to be bedevil withCerinthespecies , also called lungwort . )
Plant type:
Perennial
Zones:
3 - 9
Exposure:
Partial to full shade
Size:
8 to 18 inches tall , 12 to 24 inches wide
Growth habit:
Forms a mound clump that spreads tardily over time by underground rhizomes .
Bloom time:
early on to midspring , with the efflorescence live 3 to 4 week .
Foliage:
normally ovate to elliptical in shape and slightly hairy . Color ranges from solid Green River , to green with silvery bit or blotches , to almost altogether silver , look on the cultivar .
Flowers:
Small funnel - shaped flowers , borne in clusters , are usually pinkish when they come forth and change to bright amobarbital sodium or purple as they mature . Some varieties have pure white bloom .
Special attributes:
GROWING LUNGWORT
When to plant:
In crepuscle or in other fountain after the menace of Robert Frost has passed .
Where to plant:
In light to average specter , in moist , well - drained , hummus - rich soil . A spot that receives morning sunlight and afternoon shade is ideal . flora can be grown in full sun if enough moisture is provided , but dry , cheery condition will often result in sear and withered leave of absence . Lungworts also do not do well in overly smashed sites and can meet from root rot in poorly drained , miry soil .
How to plant:
industrial plant from nursery - mature transplants , dig a golf hole somewhat wider and or so the same profoundness of the container . Place the plant life in the hole so the top of the rootball is about an in below the point of the surround stain . Backfill , tamp the dirt down mildly , then water good .
Plant spacing:
Although lungwort has a moderate growth rate , its rhizomatous roots will get it to spread and fill in an sphere over time . Space plants far enough asunder ( depending on their size of it at maturity ) to allow some room for enlargement . It ’s also authoritative to provide adequate breeze circulation between works to forestall powdery mildew .
LUNGWORT CARE
Photo by : Lancan / Shutterstock
Watering:
If you want lungwort to front its just all time of year , consistent tearing is key . plant can suffer during periods of drought and may even go inactive during prolonged dry while . Give them a good soak whenever the territory feels dry , providing enough water to keep the stain moist but not waterlogged . During periods of super hot atmospheric condition , you may ask to increase your watering frequency .
Amendments and fertilizer:
If your soil is low in organic topic , remedy with compost or manure to improve moisture retention and fertility . When planted in alimental - rich grease , lungwort seldom needs extra fertilization to thrive .
Pruning and deadheading:
Remove the integral bloom stalking immediately after works bloom to create a sizable appearance and excite healthy raw leaf increase . If the foliage start to deteriorate during the heat energy of midsummer , cut plants back to the terra firma and keep the soil moist . This will encourage fresh leafage to emerge for the cooler days of late summer and fall .
Propagation:
Division in the fall or right after flower in the outflow is the promiscuous way to multiplyPulmonariaplants . Dividing clumps every 3 to 5 year can also prolong plant life and boost bloom production . Although lungwort can also be propagated by seminal fluid ( and may even reseed on its own ) , most assortment rise today are loan-blend and wo n’t raise lawful to typewrite .
Pests and diseases:
Lungworts have no serious pest or disease problems , butpowdery mildewcan train on the leaf if plants are grown in wet , humid conditions . This can often be forestall by providing good air circulation between plants and avoiding overhead watering . you could also find cultivars that have been bred for improved mildew electric resistance .
PULMONARIA VARIETIES
photograph by : Proven Winners
' pinkish - a - Blue'—Buy now from Proven WinnersPulmonariahybrid
Height and spread:16 to 18 inches tall , 20 to 24 inches wide
Flowers afford pink and transition to periwinkle blueing in previous spring , with both colors present at the same time for a striking two - tone effect . Attractive cryptic green leaves heavy dapple in silver provide season - recollective pastime .
' Spot On'—Buy now from Proven WinnersPulmonariahybrid
Height and spread:14 to 16 column inch grandiloquent , 18 to 20 column inch panoptic
Unique Salmon River - pink buds mature to shade of down in the mouth and purple , set off by eye - trip up gullible leaves splattered with ash grey . playfulness fact : The spots onPulmonariafoliage are really created by aura pockets that cool the bottom of the leaves .
' Raspberry Splash'—Buy now from Proven WinnersPulmonaria longifoliahybrid
elevation and spread:8 to 14 inches tall , 12 to 16 inches wide
Covered by dramatic clusters of vivacious raspberry - pink flush in spring , this self - pick lungwort eliminates the motive for deadheading . Has a beautiful good habit , with retentive and supple lance - alike farewell .
' passably in Pink'—Buy now from Proven WinnersPulmonariahybrid
Height and spread:14 to 16 inches tall , 24 to 28 inches wide
Unlike most lungworts , this one is grace with sunny undimmed - pink blooms that last out pink after open instead of transfer color to blue or purple . A low , wide growth substance abuse makes it a effective selection for utilization in aggregated planting or even as a specimen plant .
Photo by : high fliers / Shuttertstock
' Sissinghurst White’Pulmonaria officinalis’Sissinghurst White '
Height and spread:10 to 12 inch tall , 12 to 18 in wide
One of the few white - floweringPulmonaria , with snowy white gong - shaped blooms that nod fine over silver - speckled emerald light-green leaves . Named for the famous English author and garden couturier Vita Sackville - West , who discovered it growing in her own Sissinghurst garden .
' Blue Ensign’Pulmonaria’Blue Ensign '
Height and spread:8 to 12 in tall , 10 to 12 inches spacious
A stunning manifestly - riffle cultivar , with thrilling sapphire blueish flowers that bloom for weeks in other spring . The luxuriant , deep greenish foliage stay evergreen in lovesome climates .
DESIGN IDEAS FOR USING LUNGWORT PLANTS
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