Pulmonaria 'HIGH CONTRAST'

Lungwort is a genus of about 16 perennial species originally found in woodlands and at streamsides in Europe and Asia, and for centuries has been used as a medicinal plant. Plants are characterized by pink and blue flowers, and many of them make large, very attractive, almost exotic looking leaves.

High Contrast is one of the most attractive lungwort varieties with coloured foliage. In early April produces 25-30 cm tall, fleshy stems with clusters of small, campanulate flowers that open from salmon pink buds to magenta purple and mature to indigo or violet blue. During flowering emerge small, broadly lanceolate, conspicuously acuminate, light green leaves with silvery grey spots. After flowering, their colour slightly darkens, and the leaves increase their size two or three times. The silver spots merge into an almost solid coverage in the centre of the leaves leaving only the margins spotted. You can enhance the foliage quality by hard pruning immediately after flowering by cutting the whole plants down to the ground. New leaves will be larger, healthier, and will remain handsome and evergreen during mild winters.

Lungwort, especially its large-leaved forms need equally moist, fertile soil that does not dry out, or is waterlogged. It needs partial or complete shade, it is an ideal understory of tall trees providing only filtered sunlight. Use it in mixed beds with hostas or liriope. Eve if the leaves look alright after winter remove all of them in early spring. Hardy to min. -34 °C (USDA zone 4).

Last update 27-03-2022