Pulmonaria officinalis
| Pulmonaria officinalis | |
| Light: |   |
| Moisture: |  |
| Hardiness: | 4 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Evergreen | |
| Height: | 1' |
| Width: | 1' |
| Blooms: | Early Spring-Late Spring |
| Open Woods Forest | |
| Native to: | |
| Shelter | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Medicinal Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
 | |
Pulmonaria officinalis (common name: lungwort)
Propagation: 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[1]. 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: Grows well in any moderately good soil including heavy clay soils[2][3]. Prefers full to part shade in a moist humus rich soil[1]. Succeeds in the sunless shade of buildings[1]. Plants growing in shady positions tolerate drought if the soil is rich in humus[4]. The leaves tend to wilt in hot weather when the plant is grown in full sun[4].
Hardy to about -20°c[5].
Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer and rabbits[6].
A valuable early nectar source for bees[1].
There are several named forms, selected for their ornamental value[6].
Hybridizes freely with other members of this genus[1].
Range: Europe. Naturalized in Britain.
Habitat: Moist grasslands, damp woods and hedgerows in Britain, avoiding acid soils[7][8][9]. Usually found on limestone[1].
Edibility: Leaves - raw or cooked[10][11][12][13][14]. They can be added to salads or used as a potherb[15]. 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[9], though we have found the texture to be somewhat slimy[K].
The plant is an ingredient of the drink Vermouth[9].
Medicinal: 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[17][11][13][18][19]. They are often used for their healing effect in pulmonary complaints[17] and their mucilaginous nature makes them beneficial in treating sore throats[9]. The leaves can also be used externally to stop bleeding[16]. They are harvested in the spring and dried for later use[11].
A distilled water made from the plant is an effective eyewash for tired eyes[11].
A homeopathic remedy is made from the plant[13]. It is used in the treatment of bronchitis, coughs and diarrhoea[13].
Usage: A tolerant and slow growing ground cover plant for open woodland and border edges[20][1]. Plants should be spaced about 50cm apart each way[21].
Pollinators: Bees, flies
Notes: Another of those health-giving leaves.
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
In Leaf: Evergreen
Seed Ripens: Late Spring-Early Summer
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Heavy Clay: Grows in heavy-clay soils.
Also Known As: P. maculosa.
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
- ↑ Brown, George. Shade Plants for Garden and Woodland.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Chatto, Beth. The Damp Garden. Dent, 1982.
- ↑ Phillips, Roger and Martyn Rix. Perennials - The Definitve Reference. Pan Books, 1991.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Thomas, Graham. Perennial Garden Plants. J. M. Dent & Sons, 1990.
- ↑ Triska, Jan. Encyclopaedia of Plants. Hamlyn, 1975.
- ↑ Clapham, Arthur and Tom Tootin, Edmund Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press, 1962.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 Phillips, Roger. Herbs. Pan Books, 1990.
- ↑ Hedrick, Ulysses. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications, 1972.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 Chiej, Roberto. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald, 1984.
- ↑ Ceres. Free for All. Thorsons Publishers, 1977.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 Launert, Edmund. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn, 1981.
- ↑ Tanaka, Tyōzaburō. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing, 1976.
- ↑ Facciola, Stephen. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, 1990.
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 Chevallier, Andrew. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants. Dorling Kindersley, 1996.
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 Grieve, Margaret. A Modern Herbal. Penguin, 1984.
- ↑ Lust, John. The Herb Book. Bantam Books, 1983.
- ↑ Mills, Simon. The Dictionary of Modern Herbalism.
- ↑ Napier, Elspeth. Ground Cover Plants. Cassells, 1989.
- ↑ Thomas, Graham. Plants for Ground Cover. Everyman, 1990.