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by Tony Avent
Plant Delights Nursery Inc.
9241 Sauls Road
Raleigh, NC 27603
919.772.4794
There are few plants quite as interesting in the spring woodland garden as
the pulmonarias (lungworts). Pulmonarias are an excellent bold-textured
woodland perennial that contrasts well with other early season plants such
as hellebores, ophiopogons, ferns, Iris cristata, along with other spring
ephemerals in getting the spring garden off to a great early spring start.
You would think that these durable early spring bloomers with attractive
foliage would be grown everywhere, but alas no. Perhaps with a name like
lungworts, it's no wonder that few folks put these in their plant grocery carts.
The name pulmonaria arose from the foliage, which is often green with white
spots, resembling a diseased lung ... hence the common name lungwort ... and
the Latin translation, pulmonaria, which became the name for the genus.
Herbalists have long decried that when a plant resembles a particular body
part, it must have medicinal properties to cure that particular part of the
body. Hence, the continued use of pulmonaria to treat many respiratory
ailments.
The silver spots on pulmonaria leaves are actually the result of foliar air
pockets, used for cooling the lower surface of the leaves. These air
pockets mask the appearance of chlorophyll in the leaves, creating the
foliar patterns that we enjoy as gardeners. The logical conclusion is that
cultivars with more silver in the leaves should be able to tolerate more heat
and possibly sun.
Pulmonarias are perennials that grow from a deciduous basal rosette, usually
no more than 6 10" tall with a spread up to 2'. Pulmonarias flower in late
winter/very early spring, some often beginning around the end of February.
The flowers, most of which emerge usually either pink or violet, typically
change to blue as they age. The flowers are borne in corymbs on short stalks
that reach just above the foliage. Pulmonarias generally retain their
foliage until late winter, becoming mostly deciduous (depending on parentage)
just before the new season's flowering and regrowth begin.
Pulmonaria Genealogy - the species and their selections
Pulmonarias are members of the Boraginaceae family and first cousin to
other well-known garden favorites such as myosotis (forget-me-not), brunnera,
symphytum, and mertensia (Virginia Bluebell). The genus pulmonaria is
composed of 16 species, although only 8 are known in cultivation. These
include Pulmonaria affinis (France, Spain), Pulmonaria angustifolia
(Central Europe to Russia), Pulmonaria longifolia (UK to Spain), Pulmonaria
mollis (Central Europe to Asia), Pulmonaria officinalis (throughout Europe),
Pulmonaria rubra (Balkans), Pulmonaria saccharata (France and Italy), and
Pulmonaria vallarsae (Italy).
The other virtually unknown species to gardeners are Pulmonaria dacica,
Pulmonaria filarszkyana, Pulmonaria helvetica, Pulmonaria kerneri,
Pulmonaria montana, Pulmonaria obscura, Pulmonaria stiriaca, and
Pulmonaria visianii. Pulmonarias hail from a native range encompassing
much of Europe and into Russia. In the wild, they usually grow in deciduous
woodlands. Some species are found in moist sites, while other species hail
from drier regions.
Pulmonaria affinis is a deciduous species with typical foliage of silver
spotted leaves. It is one of the best pulmonaria species for sun tolerance,
and it is only represented in the trade by one cultivar, Pulmonaria
'Margaret' (Hardiness Zone 4-7)
Pulmonaria angustifolia has been the source of much nomenclatural confusion,
since the plant in the horticultural trade as Pulmonaria angustifolia
doesn't match the real Pulmonaria angustifolia. It is still unknown whether
the Pulmonaria angustifolia in commerce is an unknown species or a hybrid
group. There is only one cultivar of the true Pulmonaria angustifolia ...
a plant that goes by the invalid name of Pulmonaria angustifolia 'Alba'.
There are several cultivars of the fake Pulmonaria angustifolia, the most
commonly grown being Pulmonaria 'Blaues Meer'. These fake Pulmonaria
are stunning plants with green foliage and known for their intensely
cobalt blue flowers. (Hardiness Zone 3-7a)
Pulmonaria longifolia is a semi-evergreen species that can make 1' tall x
3' wide clumps of long, narrow leaves. Like Pulmonaria affinis, it has
good sun tolerance. There are three cultivars of Pulmonaria longifolia in
commerce including: Pulmonaria 'Bertram Anderson', Pulmonaria 'Ankum',
and Pulmonaria 'Dordogne'. Because Pulmonaria longifolia is such an
exceptional garden plant with good mildew resistance, it has been used
in a number of newly created hybrid pulmonarias, especially the heavily
spotted forms from South and Central France, known as Pulmonaria
longifolia ssp. cevennensis. (Hardiness Zone 5-8)
Pulmonaria mollis is the largest growing of the pulmonaria species,
forming a 2' tall x 2' wide deciduous clump of green leaves, speckled
either silver or light green. It also has good sun tolerance. Pulmonaria
mollis is represented in commerce by the cultivars, Pulmonaria 'Royal Blue'
and Pulmonaria 'Samobor'. (Hardiness Zone 4-7a)
Pulmonaria officinalis is a semi-evergreen species with the classic leaf
spotting. Pulmonaria officinalis is represented in commerce by several
cultivars including Pulmonaria officinalis 'Alba', Pulmonaria 'Blue Mist',
and Pulmonaria 'White Wings'. It has also been used in many early hybrids,
but because it is so mildew-prone, many of the newer hybrids exclude this
species. (Hardiness Zone 4-7)
Pulmonaria rubra is a semi-evergreen species to 1' tall x 18" wide with
large, solid green, hairy leaves. Unlike most other pulmonaria species,
the flowers are salmon red. There are a number of selections of Pulmonaria
rubra in commerce, but since they have poor heat tolerance, they are
confined to cooler summer climates. These cultivars include
Pulmonaria 'Barfield Pink', Pulmonaria 'Bowles Red', Pulmonaria 'David Ward'
(white-edge leaves), and Pulmonaria 'Redstart'. (Hardiness Zone 5-7a)
Pulmonaria saccharata is a semi-evergreen species with typical
silver-spotted foliage, forming an 18" tall x 20" wide clump.
Selections of Pulmonaria saccharata in commerce include Pulmonaria
'Leopard', Pulmonaria 'Mrs. Moon', Pulmonaria 'Pink Dawn', and
Pulmonaria 'Reginald Kaye'. (Hardiness Zone 3-7).
Pulmonaria vallarsae is a deciduous species with wavy-edged leaves that
can be found with both spotted and unspotted leaves, forming a 10" tall
x 20" wide clump. There are no known confirmed cultivars of Pulmonaria
vallarsae in commerce. (Hardiness Zone 6-8).
Pulmonaria hybrids
Over the years, the number and quality of pulmonaria hybrids has
dramatically increased and improved. Most of the early hybrids from
the EU countries, where pulmonarias grow native, were discovered as wild
or garden origin seedlings. It was Dan Heims of Oregon's Terra Nova
Nurseries who really began a directed breeding program with pulmonarias.
Only a handful of the EU selected pulmonaria cultivars are available in
the US, and many only exist in small specialty nurseries in the EU.
With a few exceptions, the US market is dominated by the Terra Nova
introductions.
The current generation of hybrids were ushered in by Pulmonaria
'Roy Davidson'. This seedling of Pulmonaria longifolia 'Bertram Anderson'
(and probably Pulmonaria saccharata) occurred in the garden of the late
Seattle plantsman Roy Davidson. Like its parent, Pulmonaria 'Roy Davidson'
is very tolerant of heat and humidity. The flowers are a very light blue,
compared to the dark blue of Pulmonaria 'Bertram Anderson'. This
introduction is the parent of many of today's best cultivars.
Another group that changed our concept of Pulmonarias was the solid
silver leaf form, first known as Pulmonaria saccharata 'Argentea'.
Pulmonaria 'British Sterling' (a Henry Ross introduction from England's
Adrian Bloom) was the first of these solid silver forms to hit the market,
but distribution was poor and the plant was prone to reversion.
Pulmaonaria 'Majeste'a much improved selection (first sold in 1988) soon followed, and this
French introduction from Didier Willery of La Ferme Fleurie Nursery was a
much superior plant with a better PR agent.
Pulmaonaria 'Majeste',
(a seedling found near a clump of Pulmonaria 'Mrs. Moon') has velvety
leaves of pure silver ... not a speck of green on the leaves. I first
saw this at the old Washfield Nursery in the UK in the mid-90s. Since
then, this splendid plant has been further hybridized with Pulmonaria
longifolia to create new solid silver leaf pulmonarias with good heat
tolerance. One of my favorites is Pulmonaria 'Samourai'. Ten years after
the introduction of
Pulmaonaria 'Majeste',
Didier introduced this cross of his original
Pulmaonaria 'Majeste'
and Pulmonaria longifolia var. cevennensis. Pulmonaria 'Samourai'
makes a superb clump of narrow, pure silver foliage, topped with cobalt
blue flowers in spring.
Pulmonaria 'Spilled Milk', and Pulmonaria 'Excaliber' PP 8958, patented
in 1994, started the pulmonaria revolution at Oregon's Terra Nova Nurseries.
Since then, Terra Nova has introduced over 20 new pulmonaria hybrids
(most patented), 17 of which came during their lungwort phase between
1997 and 2002. (through the end of 2009). Of those, 11 are still
currently in commercial production. Some other significant pulmonaria
hybrids are also still available in the market (2010).
- Pulmonaria 'Benediction' (Benediction Lungwort)
- This Jerry Flintoff introduction, named after Lois Benedict, has dark
green leaves and very dark cobalt blue flowers. (Hardiness Zone 4-7)
- Pulmonaria 'Bubble Gum' PP 14,086 (Bubble Gum Lungwort)
- This Terra Nova introduction arose as an open pollinated seedling
that had good mildew-resistant silver foliage, topped with rose
pink flowers that don't fade to violet. (Hardiness Zone 4-7)
- Pulmonaria 'Cotton Cool' (Cotton Cool Lungwort)
- Pulmonaria 'Cotton Cool' comes from Diana Grenfell, former owner of
Apple Court Nursery in the UK. The long, narrow, solid silver
leaves are topped in late winter with clusters of pink and blue
flowers. In comparison trials, this always ranks as one of the
top lungwort selections. (Hardiness Zone 4-8).
- Pulmaonaria 'Dark Vader' PP 12,333 (Dark Vader Lungwort)
- Pulmaonaria 'Dark Vader'
is an open pollinated seedling from Pulmonaria 'Victorian Brooch',
characterized by a compact habit of thick, dark green leaves,
highlighted by good silver spotting and flowers of pink and blue.
(Hardiness Zone 4-8)
- Pulmonaria 'Excaliber' PP 8,958 (Excaliber Lungwort)
- This Terra Nova cross of Pulmonaria saccharata 'Argentea' and
Pulmonaria 'Margery Fish' created a plant with pure silver leaves
surrounded by a green border, topped with flowers of pink to wine-red
in late winter. (Hardiness Zone 4-8)
- Pulmonaria 'High Contrast' PP 12,337 (High Contrast Lungwort)
- This Terra Nova introduction is an open pollinated seedling of
Pulmonaria 'Berries and Cream', characterized by ruffled silver
leaves with a dark green margin. The clumps are topped with violet
flowers that age to blue. (Hardiness Zone 4-7)
- Pulmonaria 'Margery Fish' (Margery Fish Lungwort)
- This lungwort from plantswoman Margery Fish was originally thought
to be a selection of Pulmonaria vallarsae, but was found to be a
hybrid. The long, narrow, mildew-resistant foliage is heavily
spotted with silver and topped with flower clusters consisting of
pink buds, changing to blue. Pulmonaria 'Margery Fish' is the
winner of the prestigious RHS Award of Garden Merit.
(Hardiness Zone 4-8)
- Pulmonaria 'Milky Way' (Milky Way Lungwort)
- Pulmonaria 'Milky May' is an open pollinated seedling from
Pulmonaria 'Margery Fish' that forms a 15" wide clump of
heavily-spotted, lance-shaped, mildew-resistant leaves and topped
in late winter with pink-wine blooms that fade to blue.
(Hardiness Zone 4-8)
- Pulmonaria 'Mrs. Moon' (Mrs. Moon Lungwort)
- The name Pulmonaria 'Mrs. Moon' has become almost meaningless.
Grown since the 1930s, Pulmonaria 'Mrs. Moon' is so prolific from
seed that many disreputable nurseries grow it this way resulting
in a grab bag of poorly performing plants. No one even knows what
the original Pulmonaria 'Miss Moon' looked like, so pick one of
the better choices and avoid this one. (Hardiness Zone 4-7)
- Pulmonaria 'Moonshine' PP 13,686 (Moonshine Lungwort)
- This Terra Nova introduction is the result of an open pollinated
seedling of unknown parents. Pulmonaria 'Moonshine' is
characterized by a compact habit, heavy substance, and short
silvery leaves with good mildew resistance. The clumps are
topped with light violet blue flowers in late winter.
(Hardiness Zone 4-8)
- Pulmonaria 'Raspberry Splash' PP 12,138 (Raspberry Splash Lungwort)
- This Terra Nova hybrid resulted from a cross of Pulmonaria longifolia
'Bertram Anderson' and Pulmonaria 'Leopard'. Pulmonaria
'Raspberry Splash' is characterized by large, bright raspberry
colored flowers and long bloom time. The clump is composed of
narrow, upright, well spotted foliage. (Hardiness Zone 4-8)
- Pulmaonaria 'Silver Bouquet'
PP 20,059 (Silver Bouquet Lungwort)
- This 2008 Terra Nova introduction is an open pollinated seedling from
Pulmonaria longifolia var. cevennensis, probably with Pulmonaria
saccharata. Pulmaonaria 'Silver Bouquet' is similar to Pulmonaria 'Samourai' with very long, solid silver,
mildew-resistant leaves. The clumps are topped in late winter with
rosy violet flowers. (Hardiness Zone 4-8)
- Pulmaonaria 'Trevi Fountain'
PP 13,047 (Trevi Fountain Lungwort)
- This Terra Nova hybrid resulted from a cross of Pulmonaria longifolia
'Bertram Anderson' and Pulmonaria 'Margery Fish'.
Pulmaonaria 'Trevi Fountain' forms a compact clump of long, narrow, silver spotted foliage,
topped with stalks of cobalt blue flowers. (Hardiness Zone 4-8)
- Pulmonaria 'Victorian Brooch' PP 11,234 (Victorian Brooch Lungwort)
- Pulmonaria 'Victorian Brooch' is a Terra Nova hybrid of Pulmonaria
'Margery Fish' and Pulmonaria 'Leopard', characterized by very
large flowers, a compact scape of purple flowers and a 2.5 month
bloom period. (Hardiness Zone 4-7)
Culture
Pulmonaria are short-lived plants by nature and the only way to maintain
them on a long-term basis is to divide the clumps every 3-5 years. I like
to do this in fall and winter, when the entire clump can be lifted,
teased apart, and replanted. Actually, any season that you have time to
divide the plant will work. In the garden, pulmonarias prefer moist,
well-drained soil that is rich in organic matter. While they are quite
drought tolerant, a consistently dry soil doesn't give the best long-term
results.
I have also found that light shade with a few hours of morning sun is
preferable. While lungworts will grow for a short time in very dark settings,
this is not the ideal condition for best performance. In deep shade, where
air circulation is often less than ideal, many of the cultivars will tend
to get powdery mildew on their foliage during the summer. While this is
unsightly, it seems to cause little problems for the plants, unless the
plants also suffer additional stresses from poor growing conditions.
The diseased foliage can be removed and discarded and the plant usually
comes back with fresh undamaged foliage. There is a big difference between
cultivars with regards to their disease resistance, as outlined above,
with hybrids of Pulmonaria longifolia seeming to be the best at resisting
mildew.
Propagation
Pulmonarias are quite easy to propagate. I've already mentioned dividing
plants, but cultivars can also be increased by root cuttings. Any
pulmonaria roots that are the width of a typical pencil lead can regenerate
new plants. Root cuttings need to be 2-3" long and stuck vertically with
the end furthest from the plant crown down ... polarity is very important.
Pulmonaria will also seed in the garden in well prepared, organic soil, so
watch closely and you may discover something unique.
Trials
The results of two well-known pulmonaria trials are worth mentioning, but
note that performance varies dramatically by location. I urge you to seek
out both the results from the Chicago Botanic Garden trials, published in
2001 and the Royal Horticultural Society Trials, published in 1999, if you
live in climates similar to these. Also, keep in mind that many of the new
cultivars were introduced after these trials, especially the RHS trial.
References
Bennett, Marsha (2003). Pulmonarias and the Borage Family, Timber Press.
Hewitt, Jennifer (1999). "Well Spotted" The Garden.
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