How to Grow Pulmonaria Plants

Guide to Growing Lungwort and Bethlehem Sage

Pulmonaria are woodland hardy perennials.

They bloom in the springtime with tubular flowers of purple or pink.

They have great looking leaves which are speckled with white or silver spots.

How to Grow Lungwort and Other Pulmonaria

It is best to grow Lungwort and other Pulmonaria plants from divided plants (divide in spring) or plants purchased in a garden center. If growing from seed then beware that the resultant plants will often be of lower quality. However, if you plan to grow from seed, this is how to do it. Seeds should be sown at the start of spring; once sown lightly cover the seeds topsoil. Depending upon the species size they should be spaced from 15 to 45 cm apart. Lungwort can grow in fully and partially shaded areas of the garden and like a rich soil that moist and cool.

You can start off indoors about two months in advance (plant out in autumn). The seeds will take about 4 to 7 weeks to germinate at 15 to 17 degrees centigrade.

Caring for Pulmonaria

These plants like to grow in soil that is cool and moist, so they require regular watering and should be mulched in the spring. Additionally they will thrive if fed with fertilizer at the same time. To maintain vigour divide the Pulmonaria plants every four years; this is also the way to propagate the plants and should be done in the spring.