What are Pulmonarias?
Pulmonarias or lungworts are perennial plants which are famous for their foliage and early Spring blooming. In addition to growing wild in many parts of the world, Pulmonarias are also cultivated in gardens, especially in Europe and parts of North America. These plants come in a dizzying array of cultivars and species with a wide assortment of colors and foliage patterns to choose from, and they are easy to care for, making them popular choices with some gardeners. In addition to being known as lungworts, Pulmonarias are also called soldiers and sailors or spotted dogs, depending on the cultivar. The common name lungwort is a reference to the appearance of the leaves, which Medieval Europeans thought resembled diseased lungs; in the tradition of sympathetic medicine, lungwort was often prescribed for various respiratory conditions. The Latin name for the genus, Pulmonaria, comes from the Latin word for “lung.” Wort, incidentally, is the Saxon word for “plant.” These plants classically
Pulmonarias or lungworts are perennial plants which are famous for their foliage and early Spring blooming. In addition to growing wild in many parts of the world, Pulmonarias are also cultivated in gardens, especially in Europe and parts of North America. These plants come in a dizzying array of cultivars and species with a wide assortment of colors and foliage patterns to choose from, and they are easy to care for, making them popular choices with some gardeners. In addition to being known as lungworts, Pulmonarias are also called soldiers and sailors or spotted dogs, depending on the cultivar. The common name lungwort is a reference to the appearance of the leaves, which Medieval Europeans thought resembled diseased lungs; in the tradition of sympathetic medicine, lungwort was often prescribed for various respiratory conditions. The Latin name for the genus, Pulmonaria, comes from the Latin word for “lung.†Wort, incidentally, is the Saxon word for “plant.†These plants classi
