Common Lungwort

Pulmonaria officinalis, the common lungwort, is a charming and reliable semi-evergreen perennial providing early spring colour in UK shade gardens. Its attractive foliage is often spotted or splashed with silver, offering year-round interest. In early spring, clusters of bell-shaped flowers emerge, opening pink and gradually turning blue as they mature, creating a lovely multi-coloured effect on a single plant. Growing to about 20-30cm tall, it thrives in partial to full shade and prefers moist, well-drained, humus-rich soil. Lungwort is fully hardy (H6) and makes excellent ground cover, particularly effective planted in drifts under trees or in mixed shady borders. It's deer and rabbit resistant, and a valuable early nectar source for pollinators.

Sun: Partial shade.

Soil: Moist, humus-rich.

Hardiness: H6 — down to −20°C.

Flowering: Mar, Apr, May.