Am I Taking Good Care Of My Pulmonaria?

Did you planted your Pulmonaria in part-shade to full-shade location?

Did you planted your Pulmonaria in well-drained, neutral to slightly alkaline soil?

Do you live in a region with a hot and humid climate?

Are you making sure that the soil is never completely dried out?

Do you feed your Pulmonaria frequently?

Do you prune your Pulmonaria plants after blooming to rejuvenate them?

Do you keep your Pulmonaria free of pests and diseases?

Pulmonaria is best grown in a part-shade to full-shade location, but it can tolerate early spring sun. Most trees have not leafed out when lungwort blooms in early spring and the weather is still cool and damp. It's fine to grow lungwort in a spot that will eventually be shaded when the trees leaf out. Spring sun is not as strong as the summer sun, so the leaves of other plants will protect the Pulmonaria once the sun gets stronger.

Pulmonaria plants do well in soil with a pH in the neutral to alkaline range. More important is providing them with a well-draining soil that retains moisture just long enough for the roots to soak it up. These plants will struggle in soil that is too dry or too wet.

These plants do not do well in hot and humid climates. The plants may wilt in periods of hot, humid weather and perk up again in fall. Pulmonaria will start growing as soon as all danger of frost has passed.

Lungworts need only a modest amount of water, but should not be allowed to dry out completely. Because they grow in the shade, the soil tends to stay moist for longer than it does in the harsh sun but when the soil does dry out, water thoroughly to a depth of 10 to 12 inches.

Lungworts don't require frequent or heavy fertilization. In the early spring, sprinkle a small amount of all-purpose garden fertilizer, such as 10-10-10, around each plant.

After flowering, the flower stalks turn brown and flop over, and the initial leaves also begin looking tattered. Removing the entire flower stalk and the older leaves will encourage the plant to rejuvenate and look fresh again. More de-leafing may be necessary if the summer weather is particularly hot or dry.

Good job! You are taking good care of your Pulmonaria.

The only pests you should look out for are slugs and snails. To control slugs and snails use diatomaceous earth around your plants. You can also handpick them during the night or use shallow dishes filled with beer as a trap. Leaf spots and crown rot can occur if the plant is in a wet site.