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Perennial · Boraginaceae family

Common lungwort

Pulmonaria officinalis

Part shade to shade 0.15–0.3 m × 0.3–0.45 m Flowers April–May to −37 °C
Flower colours Click a colour

In short a 10-second read

LightPart shade to shade
Size0.15–0.3 m
spacing 32 cm
FlowersApril–May
PlantingMarch–May, September–November
WinterNo winter protection

Where to plant and how much to water

Light, soil and water.

It grows best in part shade to shade, in average to moist soil.

Sun

Sun6 hours or more
Part shade3–6 hours
Shadeunder 3 h

Soil

tolerates any pH
acidicneutralalkaline
average to moisthumus-richloamy

Watering

keep the soil evenly moistdo not waterlogless when it rains

Frost

−37 °C
no winter protectiondies back in winter, regrows in spring

How much space it takes

Mature size.

The mature plant next to a person (175 cm).

50 cm1 m1.5 m0.15–0.3 mspread 0.3–0.45 m
0.15–0.3 m× spread 0.3–0.45 m

Plant 32 cm apart.

Reaches maturity in about 2–5 years. The final size depends on the cultivar and the spot — we give the range from smallest to largest.

Calendar

Through the year.

Months for Central Europe. The line shows the current month.

The year at a glance

Flowers: JanuaryFlowers: FebruaryFlowers: MarchFlowers: AprilFlowers: MayFlowers: JuneFlowers: JulyFlowers: AugustFlowers: SeptemberFlowers: OctoberFlowers: NovemberFlowers: DecemberPlanting: JanuaryPlanting: FebruaryPlanting: MarchPlanting: AprilPlanting: MayPlanting: JunePlanting: JulyPlanting: AugustPlanting: SeptemberPlanting: OctoberPlanting: NovemberPlanting: DecemberFeeding: JanuaryFeeding: FebruaryFeeding: MarchFeeding: AprilFeeding: MayFeeding: JuneFeeding: JulyFeeding: AugustFeeding: SeptemberFeeding: OctoberFeeding: NovemberFeeding: DecemberJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
FlowersPlantingFeeding
Now, in October: a good time for planting (container plant).
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Flowers

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

April–May · pink, blue or purple

Planting

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

container plant: March–May, September–November

Feeding

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

March–May

Feeding

Nutrition.

Light
balanced fertilisercompost or mulch
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Pests and diseases

Common problems and what to do.

The most common problems in Central Europe. Protection is listed from the gentlest option.

What you will see

White powdery coating on leaves and stems.

When to look

From spring onwards

How to protect

  1. Prevention
    • Airy planting, enough space between plants.
    • Do not wet the leaves.
    • In autumn, remove fallen diseased leaves (reduces spores in spring).
  2. By hand as soon as the first symptoms appearRemove and destroy affected leaves; do not compost.
  3. Chemical — only when nothing else helps only after cultural measuresOnly minimal and targeted use; a product authorised in your country against powdery mildew.
Powdery mildewsdisease · from spring onwards

What you will see

White powdery coating on leaves and stems.

When to look

From spring onwards

How to protect

  1. Prevention
    • Airy planting, enough space between plants.
    • Do not wet the leaves.
    • In autumn, remove fallen diseased leaves (reduces spores in spring).
  2. By hand as soon as the first symptoms appearRemove and destroy affected leaves; do not compost.
  3. Chemical — only when nothing else helps only after cultural measuresOnly minimal and targeted use; a product authorised in your country against powdery mildew.
More about this problem
Slugs and snails

Slugs and snails

pestsource covers the whole genus
More about this problem

What you will see

Chewed, holey young leaves.

How to protect

  1. Prevention
    • Check new growth in spring.
    • Encourage natural enemies (birds, hedgehogs, frogs).
  2. By hand in spring during growthCollect in the evening by torchlight.
  3. Biological April–JuneEncourage predators; Phasmarhabditis nematodes (where available).
Slugs and snailspest

What you will see

Chewed, holey young leaves.

How to protect

  1. Prevention
    • Check new growth in spring.
    • Encourage natural enemies (birds, hedgehogs, frogs).
  2. By hand in spring during growthCollect in the evening by torchlight.
  3. Biological April–JuneEncourage predators; Phasmarhabditis nematodes (where available).
More about this problem
Sources (3)

What to combine it with

Same needs, different flowering.

They share the same sun and soil and flower in other months — so the bed flowers for longer.

Ready-made Studio combinations with this plant

Click a combination — the Studio opens a new raised bed with it already planted.

Frequently asked

Quick answers.

When does common lungwort flower?

In April–May; the flowers are pink, blue or purple.

Does common lungwort tolerate shade?

Yes, it tolerates full shade.

How much space does common lungwort need?

At maturity 0.3–0.45 m wide and 0.15–0.3 m tall; recommended spacing 32 cm.

Powdery mildews — what can you do?

Airy planting, enough space between plants. Remove and destroy affected leaves; do not compost.

Slugs and snails — what can you do?

Check new growth in spring. Collect in the evening by torchlight.

Sources (16) Checked 28 September 2026

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