Pulmonaria - a favourite spring flower

. Pulmonarias, commonly known as lungwort, are reliably hardy, easy to grow plants for shady areas such as under trees or a shaded border. The most commonly grown variety is Pulmonaria officinalis, also called spotted dog due to its white spotted leaves. This is the one I grow in my garden.

I was given this as a gift a few years ago and it has been a lovely addition to the spring flowering plants in the woodland border. It is a low growing plant with an abundance of pink/mauve flowers appearing in March, or even earlier if the weather is mild. I have a few solitary bees nesting in the dry stone wall at the bottom of the garden and when they first emerge they find these flowers a good source of nectar.
Pulmonarias will cope with some sun but they prefer a shadier spot. They also prefer moist soil so keep them well watered when they are first planted and during any subsequent dry spells. The roots of established plants can be divided and replanted during October or March to increase your stock. This method of propagation produces better results than growing new plants from seed. I divided my plants last year and replanted some in different areas of the garden. I'm hoping these new plants will have rooted well and produce some lovely flowers this year.