Plant type: herbaceous.
- Origin: Western Europe.
- Growing environment: garden or greenhouse.
- Foliage: Evergreen.
- Flowering: yes. Flowers are pink or blue.
- Aroma: present.
- Care: Lungwort requires careful care.
- Humidity level: moderate.
Description: This is an evergreen perennial flower with oval-round leaves covered with silvery spots. Different species have different degrees of appearance of silver spots. So, for example, sugar lungwort is almost completely covered with a silvery color, while medicinal lungwort is partially covered. This plant is rhizomatous and usually grows in groups. From late winter to spring, flowers appear that are pink at first and turn blue as they mature. In the garden, they look good with spring bulbous flowers such as azaleas and ferns. Plant height reaches 30 cm. Division occurs every 3-5 years. Belongs to the Burachnikov family.
Large photo of lungwort flowers
Lighting: shade or partial shade. In conditions of complete shade, there should be little or no light. Lungwort should be planted in those places where the shadow is formed by large trees or cast from buildings. Plants that require full shade are usually sensitive to hot sun. If the flower is planted between trees, then there may be a problem of lack of water, nutrients, and also a place for the root system to grow. Under conditions of partial shade, it is understood that light will occasionally enter, usually through the tall branches of a growing tree. In this case, the struggle for nutrients is rarely observed in plants. It is best to choose shady places on the north or northeast sides. As a rule, with this arrangement, the environment is cooler.
Watering: Moist and well drained. The soil for lungwort should be moist, not damp, because due to the composition of the soil, a large amount of moisture flows out or evaporates. For most species, about 2 cm of water per week is sufficient. By changing the composition of the soil with various fertilizers, you can make it looser, as well as maintain water retention and drainage capacity. If you mulch the soil with a layer of 8 cm, you will be able to maintain the proper level of soil moisture and, as practice shows, mulched plants grow faster than non-mulched ones.
Fertilizer: Lungwort, whose flower acquires all its beauty only with the optimal composition of the soil, requires nutrient-rich soil. So, annuals and perennials can be fertilized:
- water-soluble fertilizers;
- organic feeds.
Water-soluble fertilizers are usually applied every two weeks during intensive growth or as directed in the instructions. When applying organic top dressing, it is necessary to follow the instructions given on the packaging, since each organic fertilizer has an individual composition.
Landing lungwort
How to prepare the beds? Determine the acidity and alkalinity of the soil using various test tools before you begin to prepare the beds. This method will determine the best location for planting flowers. When planting lungwort, be sure to check the drainage of the soil and correct those places where water stagnation forms. The area should be cleared of weeds and debris. All weeds should be removed as soon as they appear.
3-7 days before planting, it is recommended to add 5 to 10 cm of manure or compound fertilizer and constantly monitor the planting site to improve fertility, drainage and maintain moisture. If the composition of the soil is poor, then an additional layer of soil should be sprinkled. It does not matter what composition this top layer will be sandy or clay, in any case, organic fertilizers can always be applied to it. Perennial beds should be 45 cm deep. At first, the whole process of planting lungwort may seem difficult, but this will play an important role in the subsequent development of the plant.
The best time for planting is spring. At this time, the possibility of freezing is excluded, and the soil contains many nutrients. Spring is more preferable for perennials that do not like wet conditions and cold areas, and they may well take root before the first winter. Planting in summer and winter is not recommended for most flowers, with the exception of already established plants.
Pests: Slugs and snails can attack lungworts as they are kept in humid conditions. These are voracious parasites that eat anything that is not woody or has a pleasant smell. They can create holes in lungwort foliage, damage an entire flower stem, or completely engulf seedlings, leaving thin, silvery marks.
Application: These flowers are often used in cooking and medicine. In terms of pharmacological properties, the lungwort is of the greatest value.
Additionally: lungwort, which requires some attention, needs regular removal of old leaves after flowering.