Lungwort herb and benefits

Lungwort is a native plant of Europe and northern parts of the USA. It has naturalized  in many countries in cool climates, where it grows in shady, moist areas and in woodlands. The markings on the leaves were attributed to the Virgin Mary's milk or her tears; however, the generic name, Pulmonaria, comes from 'pulmo' meaning lung, and the common name, Lungwort, conjurs up a rather different image - of diseased lungs - to those blotched markings on the leaves. The Doctrine of Signatures, which held that all plants must be associated either by appearance, smell or habit with the disease which it was said to heal, used it for various lung disorders.

Species

Pulmonaria angustifolia

Hardy perennial. Ht 23cm (9in), spread 20-30cm (8-12in). Flowers pink (inning to bright blue in spring. Leaves lance shaped and mid-green with no markings.

Pulmonaria longifolia

Hardy perennial. Ht 30cm (12in) spread 45cm (18in). The flowers start pinkish turning purplish-blue in spring. The leaves are lance shaped dark green, and slightly hairy with white spots.

Pulmonaria officinalis

Lungwort

Semi-evergreen hardy perennial. Ht 30cm (12in) spread 60cm (24in). Pink flowers turning blue in Spring. Leaves oval with blotchy white/cream markings on a mid-green, slightly hairy surface.

Pulmonaria officinalis 'Sissinghurst White'

Semi-evergreen hardy perennial. Ht 30cm (12in), spread 45-60cm (18-24in). White flowers in spring. Leaves white-spotted, mid-green in color, with a pointed oval shape.

Pulmonaria rubra 'Redstart'

Semi-evergreen hardy perennial. Ht 30cm (12in),| spread 60cm (24in). Pink/red flowers in spring. The leaves are long ovals, velvety and mid-green with no markings.

Pulmonaria saccharata ‘Mrs. Moon'

Semi-evergreen hardy perennial. Ht 30cm (12in) spread 60cm (24in). Flowers star! As pink and turn blue in spring. The green leaves are long pointed ovals with dear, creamy white, variable spots. Note: The American native Virginian cowslip, Mertensia virginica, also known as smooth lungwort, belongs to the same Boraginaceae family as Lungwort. The lowers arc purple/blue and the leaves lance shaped. It is excellent for shady places. The foliage dies back very early in autumn and leaves a bare patch, so it is not suitable for front of border. Propagate in the same way as the Pulmonaria spp.

Container growing

Make sure the container is: enough to give the ping rhizomes a chance read and so prevent the from becoming pot too quickly.  Use based compost and a frost-hardy container, as these plants do not like coming inside even into a cold greenhouse, where the growth becomes soft and rots off. Dining the growing season keep the container in a shady spot and water well.

Medicinal

Lungwort is a soothing expectorant. The silica it contains restores the elasticity of the lungs. Externally it has been used for healing all kinds of wounds.

Cultivation

Propagation

Seeds

Lungwort seldom produces viable seed; increase your stock by division, but watch out in the garden, where it will self-seed erratically.

Division

Divide established plants either after flowering in late spring or in the autumn.

Pests and Diseases

Lungwort can suffer from powdery mildew when the leaves die back in autumn. Simply remove the damaged leaves and dispose of them.

Maintenance

Spring: Dig up seedlings which mysteriously appear in odd parts of the garden.

Summer: Do nothing.

Autumn: Divide established plants. Cut back growth.

Winter: No need to protect, fully hardy.

Garden cultivation

This attractive, fully hardy plant prefers a moist but well-drained soil with added leaf mould or well-rotted manure. It is an ideal plant for shady parts of the garden and can not take extreme heat or searing sun. Plant out 30cm (12in) apart in the autumn. Lungwort grows quickly and spreads to provide dense ground cover. Water freely in dry weather.

Harvest

Pick the leaves after flowering in the summer and dry for medicinal use.