Also known as Lungwort · 978 gardener saves
Pulmonaria: the varieties gardeners actually grow
Pulmonaria, the genus most gardeners know as lungwort. We track 35 varieties; these are the ones gardeners actually save and plant, ranked by real saves rather than catalog marketing. Each links to full care, bloom, and live price data.
The 12 most-saved Pulmonaria varieties
Of 35 in the catalog — ordered by how many gardeners actually grow them.
#1 most savedTwinkle Toes Lungwort
Pulmonaria officinalis 'Twinkle Toes'
#2 most savedCommon Lungwort
Pulmonaria officinalis
#3 most savedPulmonaria Pink-a-Blue
Pulmonaria officinalis 'Pink-a-Blue'
Lungwort Redstart
Pulmonaria rubra 'Redstart'
David Ward Lungwort
Pulmonaria rubra 'David Ward'
Spilled Milk Lungwort
Pulmonaria officinalis 'Spilled Milk'
Shrimps on the Barbie pulmonaria Shrimps on the Barbie lungwort
Pulmonaria officinalis 'Shrimps on the Barbie'
Raspberry Splash Lungwort
Pulmonaria officinalis 'Raspberry Splash'
High Contrast Lungwort
Pulmonaria officinalis 'High Contrast'
Cevennensis Lungwort
Pulmonaria longifolia 'cevennensis'
Smokey Blue Lungwort
Pulmonaria saccharata 'Smokey Blue'
Pretty in Pink Lungwort
Pulmonaria officinalis 'Pretty in Pink'
Browse all 35 Pulmonaria varieties →
How to grow Pulmonaria
What the Pulmonaria varieties in our catalog actually agree on — drawn from the care records of the 35 most-grown of them, not from a generic template.
The Pulmonaria year
- DivideSeptember100% of varieties
Divide clumps every 3-5 years to renew vigor
- Spring CleanupFebruary97% of varieties
Remove old or tattered foliage before new growth emerges
- Check for PestsMay–July77% of varieties
Monitor for slugs and snails, especially in wet weather
- MulchMarch54% of varieties
Apply 2 inches of organic mulch to retain soil moisture
- DeadheadApril and May49% of varieties
Cut back spent flower stalks after bloom to tidy plant
- FertilizeMarch34% of varieties
Apply balanced slow-release fertilizer in early spring
Do
- Water regularly to keep soil moist 🌱
- Water consistently to keep soil moist 🌱
- Mulch to conserve moisture and regulate soil temperature
- Prune after flowering to maintain shape
- Mulch to conserve moisture and suppress weeds
Avoid
- Avoid overwatering to prevent root rot ❌
- Don’t let soil dry out completely
- Do not let soil dry out completely
- Avoid letting soil dry out completely ❌
What goes wrong with Pulmonaria
| Problem | What you'll see | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Aphids | Sticky residue and distorted leaves | Spray with insecticidal soap or neem oil |
| Slugs | Irregular holes in leaves | Use organic slug bait or handpick at night |
| Slugs and Snails | Irregular holes chewed in leaves, often with slime trails nearby. | Use slug baits like iron phosphate. Set beer traps or hand-pick at night. |
| Slugs and snails | Chewed leaves and ragged edges | Use organic slug pellets or handpick pests at night |
| Powdery mildew | White powdery coating on leaves | Improve air circulation and apply fungicide if needed |
| Powdery Mildew | White powdery coating on leaves | Apply fungicide and improve air circulation |
| Root Rot | Wilting and browning leaves | Ensure well-drained soil and reduce watering |
Making more Pulmonaria
Division
- Dig up mature clump in early spring or fall.
- Gently separate into smaller sections with roots attached.
- Plant divisions at same depth in prepared moist soil.
- Water thoroughly and mulch to reduce stress.
- Wait 6 weeks for establishment.
Seeds
- Sow seeds on moist soil surface in early spring.
- Cover lightly with soil or sand.
- Keep soil consistently moist.
- Germination occurs in 2-4 weeks.
Pulmonaria questions
How many types of Pulmonaria are there?
The Sow catalog tracks 35 distinct Pulmonaria varieties. The most popular — ranked by 978 real gardener saves — are shown first above.
What zones does Pulmonaria grow in?
Across its varieties, Pulmonaria covers USDA Zones 4–9. Individual varieties differ — each plant page lists its exact range, and Sow filters the catalog to your zone automatically.
When does Pulmonaria bloom?
Most Pulmonaria varieties bloom in early spring. Staggering early, mid, and late varieties extends the genus's season in one bed.
Which Pulmonaria should I choose?
Start from the most-saved varieties above — popularity across thousands of gardens is a strong signal of reliability — then filter by your zone and sun. In the Sow app you can preview any of them in a photo of your actual yard before you buy.
Keep exploring
Pulmonaria shows up in
Design with Pulmonaria in your own yard
Snap a photo of your space and see these varieties planted in it — sized correctly, matched to your zone, with care reminders included.
