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Herbaceous Perennial

Pulmonaria obscura

unspotted lungwort

An herbaceous perennial with a clump-forming habit, reaching 10 to 30 cm in height with a spread to 20 to 30 cm. Its softly hairy, unspotted green leaves are lanceolate to ovate, measuring 4 to 12 cm in length. From March to May, it produces funnel-shaped flowers that open pink and mature to reddish-violet, adding a splash of colour to shady areas

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Ultimate height

0.1–0.5 metres

Time to ultimate height

1–2 years

Ultimate spread

0.1–0.5 metres

Clay

Loam

Moisture

Moist but well–drained

pH

Acid, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full shade
Partial shade

Aspect

East–facing or North–facing

Exposure

Exposed or Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Boraginaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: Yes
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Clump forming
Genus: Pulmonaria can be herbaceous or semi-evergreen rhizomatous perennials with terminal clusters of funnel-shaped flowers in late winter or early spring, and often strikingly patterned leaves developing in summer
Name status: Correct
Plant range: Europe

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in humus-rich, fertile, moist but not waterlogged soil in full or partial shade

Propagation

Propagate by division, after flowering or in autumn

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Cottage and informal garden
Wildlife gardens
Flower borders and beds

Pruning

Remove old leaves after flowering

Pests

May be susceptible to slugs and snails

Diseases

May be susceptible to powdery mildews in dry conditions

Get involved

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Pulmonaria obscura

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