The Garden has a modest collection of Pulmonaria selections, commonly known as lungwort or soldiers and sailors. These plants have been grown in Newfoundland gardens for many years; in fact, a couple are even considered as heritage plants. The wild types of Pulmonaria, of which there are 14 species, are native to Eurasia, growing in the dappled shade of deciduous woodlands or in sunny, alpine meadows. They are members of the borage family, Boraginaceae. Several of the species have flowers that change colour as they age, from pink to purple-blue. This colour change may be a cue to pollinating insects to let them know which flowers are freshly open (full of nectar and currently unpollinated) versus those which are older blooms (already pollinated and with little nectar). Several species have attractive white-spotted foliage. Newer selections have leaves so heavily spotted that they are now almost entirely silvery in appearance. Below are the main species growing in the Garden: P. officinalis, P. montana and P. angustifolia.
Below are some of the named cultivars we are growing at the Garden; 'Dora Bielefeld', 'P. longifolia 'Cevennensis', 'Spring Beauty' and 'Sissinghurt White'.
In regards to cultivation, Pulmonaria prefer a moist, rich soil. They do not tolerate droughty conditions. Full sun to part shade is best. While they can tolerate considerable shade, their flowering will scant. They are hardy throughout Newfoundland and south-central Labrador. Blooming can start by early April and continue to nearly the end of June. Many will start blooming with short stems (10-15cm) but the stems elongate throughout the blooming period until they reach about 30-45 cm. The leaves expand to their full size after blooming. To maintain tidier plants, you should remove the faded flower stems.
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