Lungwort
Pulmonaria saccharata
Lungwort is a herbaceous or semi-evergreen flowering perennial valued for early to mid-spring, with site, planting, and seasonal care guidance for ornamental gardens.
Published Reviewed
At a glance
- Light
- Part shade to shade
- Water
- Medium; even moisture with drainage
- Soil
- Humus-rich, moisture-retentive, well-drained soil
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–8
- Bloom
- Early to mid-spring
- Height
- 8–12 in · 20–30 cm
In this guide
Overview
Lungwort forms low clumps of spotted or silvered leaves and sends up early flowers that often shift from pink toward blue or violet as they age. Identification begins with several traits observed together rather than one flower color. For lungwort, compare the whole habit, leaves, buds or flowers, stems, and the way new growth arises. Confirm the botanical label before using mature dimensions or regional guidance. In the garden, preserve a visible crown or root flare, appropriate drainage, and enough surrounding space to inspect the plant from more than one side.
The coarse softly hairy foliage distinguishes it from smooth-leaved hostas and many other shade perennials. Its garden value depends on mature form as much as on the short flowering period. For lungwort, compare the whole habit, leaves, buds or flowers, stems, and the way new growth arises. Confirm the botanical label before using mature dimensions or regional guidance. In the garden, preserve a visible crown or root flare, appropriate drainage, and enough surrounding space to inspect the plant from more than one side.
Plants expand by short rhizomes into a ground-layer patch rather than a tall crown. Site conditions should be read at crown and root depth, especially after rain or seasonal heat. For lungwort, compare the whole habit, leaves, buds or flowers, stems, and the way new growth arises. Confirm the botanical label before using mature dimensions or regional guidance. In the garden, preserve a visible crown or root flare, appropriate drainage, and enough surrounding space to inspect the plant from more than one side.
Morning light and open shade support flowering while sheltering foliage from hot afternoon sun. Named selections may change scale, color, and regional performance without changing the basic botanical framework. For lungwort, compare the whole habit, leaves, buds or flowers, stems, and the way new growth arises. Confirm the botanical label before using mature dimensions or regional guidance. In the garden, preserve a visible crown or root flare, appropriate drainage, and enough surrounding space to inspect the plant from more than one side.
Powdery mildew and tired leaves become more noticeable when air is still, soil dries repeatedly, or heat persists. A fixed seasonal photograph helps separate normal dormancy or decline from damage. For lungwort, compare the whole habit, leaves, buds or flowers, stems, and the way new growth arises. Confirm the botanical label before using mature dimensions or regional guidance. In the garden, preserve a visible crown or root flare, appropriate drainage, and enough surrounding space to inspect the plant from more than one side.
Named cultivars differ markedly in silver pattern, flower color, size, and summer foliage quality. The planting remains successful when its natural outline fits without repeated size control. For lungwort, compare the whole habit, leaves, buds or flowers, stems, and the way new growth arises. Confirm the botanical label before using mature dimensions or regional guidance. In the garden, preserve a visible crown or root flare, appropriate drainage, and enough surrounding space to inspect the plant from more than one side.
- Family
- Boraginaceae
- Range
- Central and southern Europe
- Soil pH
- 6–7.5
- Spread
- 12–24 in · 30–60 cm
Planting & careHow to grow lungwort
Performance declines in hot humid conditions and dry exposed soil. Give useful spring light, later shade, even moisture, and air movement rather than deep stagnant shade.
- 1Confirm identity and fit
Choose a shaded edge with humus-rich soil that drains after rain. Use the nursery label and regional guidance to refine this step for the named selection. Preserve an inspection route and compare the result after settling rain or active growth. The step is complete when the plant is stable at the correct grade and the site still accommodates its documented mature habit.
- 2Draw the mature outline
Space plants for mature spread instead of filling every gap at planting. Use the nursery label and regional guidance to refine this step for the named selection. Preserve an inspection route and compare the result after settling rain or active growth. The step is complete when the plant is stable at the correct grade and the site still accommodates its documented mature habit.
- 3Test light and drainage
Set the crown at its previous depth and keep coarse mulch away from new shoots. Use the nursery label and regional guidance to refine this step for the named selection. Preserve an inspection route and compare the result after settling rain or active growth. The step is complete when the plant is stable at the correct grade and the site still accommodates its documented mature habit.
- 4Set crown and roots at grade
Water the root ball through establishment, especially beneath tree canopies that intercept rain. Use the nursery label and regional guidance to refine this step for the named selection. Preserve an inspection route and compare the result after settling rain or active growth. The step is complete when the plant is stable at the correct grade and the site still accommodates its documented mature habit.
- 5Water the occupied root zone
Remove badly weathered leaves selectively after flowering or when fresh basal growth can replace them. Use the nursery label and regional guidance to refine this step for the named selection. Preserve an inspection route and compare the result after settling rain or active growth. The step is complete when the plant is stable at the correct grade and the site still accommodates its documented mature habit.
- 6Build the surrounding plant layer
Pair with fine-textured ferns, epimedium, hellebores, and spring bulbs without burying the patterned foliage. Use the nursery label and regional guidance to refine this step for the named selection. Preserve an inspection route and compare the result after settling rain or active growth. The step is complete when the plant is stable at the correct grade and the site still accommodates its documented mature habit.
Pruning lungwort
Cut away winter-damaged or mildew-marked foliage when fresh basal leaves can replace it. Remove spent flower stems if seedlings are not wanted. Avoid shearing into the crown or stripping all leaves during hot dry weather, when remaining foliage still supports the plant.
Seasonal care
Spring
Observe early to mid-spring, record flower and leaf emergence, refresh only a shallow mulch layer, and check crown grade after winter. Plant or divide only in the locally suitable window and keep new roots evenly moist without saturating the soil.
Summer
Read foliage color, shoot extension, root-zone moisture, and heat exposure. Water established plants from measured soil conditions, preserve air around the crown, and avoid forcing tender growth with routine fertilizer when the plant is already performing normally.
Autumn
Inspect mature spread, branch or clump structure, and the way fallen leaves collect around the base. Complete regionally suitable planting while soil remains workable, document any division or relocation, and protect the root area from compaction.
Winter
Use the dormant or evergreen framework to find broken, crossing, buried, or exposed structure. Leave flower buds and sound stems intact, check winter drainage and wind exposure, and schedule only work that can be done safely without frozen or saturated soil.
Spring
Observe early to mid-spring, record flower and leaf emergence, refresh only a shallow mulch layer, and check crown grade after winter. Plant or divide only in the locally suitable window and keep new roots evenly moist without saturating the soil.
Summer
Read foliage color, shoot extension, root-zone moisture, and heat exposure. Water established plants from measured soil conditions, preserve air around the crown, and avoid forcing tender growth with routine fertilizer when the plant is already performing normally.
Autumn
Inspect mature spread, branch or clump structure, and the way fallen leaves collect around the base. Complete regionally suitable planting while soil remains workable, document any division or relocation, and protect the root area from compaction.
Winter
Use the dormant or evergreen framework to find broken, crossing, buried, or exposed structure. Leave flower buds and sound stems intact, check winter drainage and wind exposure, and schedule only work that can be done safely without frozen or saturated soil.
Common problems
Weak establishment
- Look for
- Sparse extension growth, a root ball that dries differently from surrounding soil, settling below grade, or foliage that loses turgor despite ordinary weather.
- Action
- Check moisture inside and outside the original root ball, restore the visible crown or flare, correct a dry pocket or blocked drainage, and keep mulch away from stems before adding fertilizer.
Poor flowering
- Look for
- Healthy-looking growth with fewer flowers than expected for the plant’s age, cultivar, light, pruning history, and regional season.
- Action
- Confirm the label, useful light, pruning date, winter bud injury, and establishment stage. Change the limiting condition that the evidence supports and allow the next normal flowering cycle to test it.
Leaf scorch or decline
- Look for
- Brown margins, premature yellowing, or thinning concentrated on the hottest, windiest, wettest, or most root-competitive side.
- Action
- Compare exposed and sheltered tissue, inspect soil moisture and drainage at root depth, and correct the environmental pattern. Seek local diagnosis when lesions or dieback continue into protected growth.
Crown or stem damage
- Look for
- Soft crown tissue, bark wounds, broken unions, buried stem bases, or decay that advances beyond old dead material.
- Action
- Remove only clearly dead loose material, preserve sound tissue, correct grade and mechanical exposure, and obtain qualified help for structural branches, spreading decay, or an uncertain crown disorder.
Sources
- Pulmonaria saccharata. North Carolina State Extension. Source record · Accessed 2026-08-19.
- Pulmonaria. Royal Horticultural Society. Source record · Accessed 2026-08-19.
- Pulmonaria saccharata. Missouri Botanical Garden. Source record · Accessed 2026-08-19.