Plant guide

Lungwort.

Pulmonaria officinalis

Pronounced pul-mo-NAIR-ee-uh oh-fiss-ih-NAH-liss

Also known as Common Lungwort, Jerusalem cowslip, Jerusalem-sage, Joseph-and-Mary, Lungwort, Mary-spilt-the-milk, bloody-butcher

Lungwort is a charming, shade loving perennial known for its spotted foliage and early spring blooms. It adds a lovely touch of color to woodland gardens when many other plants are still waking up. You will find it is quite hardy and easy to keep happy in the right spot.

At a glance

Care level: Easy
Plant type: Herbaceous perennial
Light: Partial shade to full shade
Indoor light: Medium light
Water: Every 3 to 7 days
Mature size: 12 inches tall and 18 inches wide
Growth rate: Medium

Care

Keep the soil consistently moist but never soggy to prevent root issues. Watch for powdery mildew on the leaves during hot, dry spells. A layer of mulch helps keep the roots cool and damp.

Watering: Water whenever the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch.
Feeding: Apply a balanced organic fertilizer once in early spring as new growth appears.
Pruning: Cut back the foliage after flowering to encourage fresh, healthy leaves for the rest of the season.
Repotting: Divide the clumps every few years in spring or fall to keep the plant vigorous.
Soil: Humus rich, well draining soil
Soil pH: 6.0 to 7.5

Safety

Pets: This plant is generally considered non toxic to cats and dogs.

How to identify it

White spotted dark green leaves
Funnel shaped flowers
Flowers shift from pink to blue
Hairy textured foliage
Low growing basal rosette

Science

Family: Boraginaceae
Genus: Pulmonaria
Order: Boraginales
Class: Magnoliopsida

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Also in

Plants for shade

Is your lungwort looking unwell?

This page is a general guide. Pocket Botanist diagnoses problems from a photo of your actual plant, works out watering for your light and conditions, and reminds you when care is due.

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This guide was generated with AI and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.