Practical
Plants

Pulmonaria officinalis

Lungwort

a perennial evergreen member of the Pulmonaria genus in the family Boraginaceae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
evergreen
Height
0.3 m
Spread
0.3 m
Fertility
Bees, Flies
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Bees, Flies

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Leaves - raw or cooked[10][19][20][21][2]. They can be added to salads or used as a potherb[6]. A fairly bland flavour but the leaves are low in fibre and make an acceptable addition to mixed salads, though their mucilaginous and slightly hairy texture make them less acceptable when eaten on their own[K]. The young leaves make a palatable cooked vegetable[15], though we have found the texture to be somewhat slimy[K]. The plant is an ingredient of the drink Vermouth[15].

Plant part
Leaves

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Lungwort has a high mucilage content and this makes it useful in the treatment of chest conditions, being of particular benefit in cases of chronic bronchitis[16]. It combines well with other herbs such as coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara) in the treatment of chronic coughs including whooping cough and can also be taken to treat asthma[16]. The leaves and flowering shoots are astringent, demulcent, diaphoretic, diuretic, emollient, mildly expectorant and resolvent[18][19][21][13][4]. They are often used for their healing effect in pulmonary complaints[18] and their mucilaginous nature makes them beneficial in treating sore throats[15]. The leaves can also be used externally to stop bleeding[16]. They are harvested in the spring and dried for later use[19]. A distilled water made from the plant is an effective eyewash for tired eyes[19]. A homeopathic remedy is made from the plant[21]. It is used in the treatment of bronchitis, coughs and diarrhoea[21].

Product or use
Astringent
Product or use
Demulcent
Product or use
Diaphoretic
Product or use
Diuretic
Product or use
Emollient
Product or use
Expectorant
Product or use
Homeopathy
Product or use
Ophthalmic
Product or use
Resolvent

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

A tolerant and slow growing ground cover plant for open woodland and border edges[9][11]. Plants should be spaced about 50cm apart each way[12].

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Soil surface

Ground cover

Environment

Range
Europe. Naturalized in Britain.
Habitat
Moist grasslands, damp woods and hedgerows in Britain, avoiding acid soils[3][5][15]. Usually found on limestone[11].
Light
partial sun
Shade tolerance
permanent shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 4+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay, heavy clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Tolerances
drought
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
tolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - sow spring in a greenhouse. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Division in spring or autumn or after flowering in early summer if the soil is not too dry[11]. Very easy, larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found that it is better to pot up the smaller divisions and grow them on in light shade in a cold frame until they are well established before planting them out in late spring or early summer.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Grows well in any moderately good soil including heavy clay soils[1][17]. Prefers full to part shade in a moist humus rich soil[11]. Succeeds in the sunless shade of buildings[11]. Plants growing in shady positions tolerate drought if the soil is rich in humus[8]. The leaves tend to wilt in hot weather when the plant is grown in full sun[8]. Hardy to about -20°c[7]. Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer and rabbits[14]. A valuable early nectar source for bees[11]. There are several named forms, selected for their ornamental value[14]. Hybridizes freely with other members of this genus[11].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

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  2. Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00

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  3. Triska. Dr. Hamlyn Encyclopaedia of Plants. Hamlyn 1975-00-00 ISBN 0-600-33545-3

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  4. Mills. S. Y. The Dictionary of Modern Herbalism.

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  5. Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962-00-00

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  6. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

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  7. Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Perennials Volumes 1 and 2. Pan Books 1991-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30936-9

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  8. Chatto. B. The Dry Garden. Dent 1982-00-00 ISBN 0460045512

    ↩1↩2

  9. Royal Horticultural Society. Ground Cover Plants. Cassells. 1989-00-00 ISBN 0-304-31089-1

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  10. Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6

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  11. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7

  12. Thomas. G. S. Plants for Ground Cover J. M. Dent & Sons 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-460-12609-1

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  13. Lust. J. The Herb Book. Bantam books 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-553-23827-2

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  14. Thomas. G. S. Perennial Garden Plants J. M. Dent & Sons, London. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0 460 86048 8

    ↩1↩2

  15. Phillips. R. & Foy. N. Herbs Pan Books Ltd. London. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30725-8

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  16. Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants Dorling Kindersley. London 1996-00-00 ISBN 9-780751-303148

    ↩1↩2↩3

  17. Brown. Shade Plants for Garden and Woodland.

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  18. Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9

    ↩1↩2

  19. Chiej. R. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-356-10541-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  20. Ceres. Free for All. Thorsons Publishers 1977-00-00 ISBN 0-7225-0445-4

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  21. Launert. E. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn 1981-00-00 ISBN 0-600-37216-2

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

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