Growing Lungwort

Category Perennials

This is a guide about growing lungwort. Lungwort grows to 8 to 10 inches and is one of the best ways to bring low-maintenance color to the shadier parts of your garden.

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Article: Growing: Lungwort

By EllenB [857 Posts, 1 Comment]0 found this helpful

June 12, 2006

Botanical Name:

Pulminaria officinalis

Common names:

Jerusalem Cowslip, Oak Lungs and Lung Moss.

Description:

Lungwort is one of the most interesting herbs to grow for color. After clusters of pinkish-red flowers open in the spring, they slowly change in color to violet or blue to create a lovely, multi-colored effect. When the flowers fade away, we are left with its blotchy, white and green foliage, which remains interesting and attractive for the rest of the season. Lungwort grows to a height of 8 to 10 inches and is one of the best ways to bring low-maintenance color to the shadier parts of your garden.

Life Cycle:

hardy perennial; not suited for parts of Florida or along the Gulf coast.

Exposure:

shade or partial shade

Cultivation:

Lungwort prefers to grow in moist, fertile soil in a shady location.

Start from seeds sown directly in the ground in spring or from division in the fall. Water plants regularly during prolonged periods of heat and deeply after dividing them in the fall to encourage root growth before winter. Cut back spent flower stalks in the fall and mulch plants for winter. Divide clumps after three or four years or as necessary to prevent crowding.

Propagation:

seeds or division

Parts Used:

leaves

Harvesting and Storage:

Plant should be harvested in its entirety during the flowering period.

Medicinal Uses:

coughs; astringent; digestive aid

Culinary Uses

none

Other Uses:

none