Lungwort (Pulmonaria 'Victorian Brooch')
Pulmonaria 'Victorian Brooch' Lungwort is a low-maintenance perennial prized for silver-spotted foliage and magenta-pink spring blooms.
Scroll down to discover growing tips, care requirements, companion plants, and more
Complete Plant Information
Overview
Pulmonaria ‘Victorian Brooch’ is a standout herbaceous perennial celebrated primarily for its year-round visual interest, making it a cornerstone for shady gardens. This variety of Lungwort features attractive basal clumps of rounded, green leaves beautifully overlaid with distinctive silver spotting, reminiscent of old jewelry. While the spring brings clusters of funnel-shaped, magenta-coral pink flowers, the foliage of Pulmonaria ‘Victorian Brooch’ ensures structure and texture long after the blooms fade.
Valued by gardeners for its low maintenance requirements and adaptability to deep shade, this Lungwort thrives where many other perennials struggle. It is an excellent choice for softening harsh, dark corners of the landscape and provides reliable coverage in woodland settings. The slower spread by creeping roots allows it to form attractive, weed-suppressing mats over time.
The genus name, Pulmonaria, is historically linked to the Doctrine of Signatures, though modern gardeners appreciate the plant for its aesthetic merits, particularly the striking contrast between the silver-spotted foliage and the spring flowers of Pulmonaria ‘Victorian Brooch’. It offers reliable seasonal performance with minimal intervention required once established.
Fast Facts
- Plant Family: Boraginaceae
- Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
- Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 4-8
- Size at Maturity:
- Height: 0.75-1 ft
- Spread: 1-1.5 ft
- Bloom Time: April to May
- Bloom Description: Magenta-pink
- Sun Exposure: Part shade to full shade
- Water Needs: Medium
- Maintenance Level: Low
How to Grow
Plant Pulmonaria ‘Victorian Brooch’ in the spring or fall, utilizing its slow-spreading habit to establish ground cover. This Lungwort demands soil that is well-drained but consistently medium in moisture, benefiting greatly from an amendment with organic matter, resulting in cool, humusy conditions. Ensure the location provides ample afternoon shade, as light morning sun is tolerable, but excessive heat or direct sun will cause the foliage to scorch and potentially lead to summer dormancy, especially if the soil dries out significantly.
Watering requires diligence; soils must not be allowed to dry out, as periods of drought can greatly affect the leaf quality of this specific shade lover. Fertilizing is generally unnecessary if the preferred rich, organic soil conditions are met. Deadheading spent flower stems immediately after the ‘Victorian Brooch’ finishes blooming encourages neatness and directs energy back into foliage production.
Divide plants in the fall if they become excessively crowded, which also helps rejuvenate the clumps. Since the leaves are semi-evergreen in warmer climates, the foliage may retain pleasant coloring even during mild winters, providing consistent garden structure.
Landscape Uses
The primary function of Pulmonaria ‘Victorian Brooch’ in the garden is as an effective ground cover, massing beautifully beneath deciduous trees or in deep shade pockets. Its ability to naturalize gently means it is perfect for achieving a relaxed, woodland aesthetic, blurring boundaries within shaded borders.
This variety serves excellently as a foreground planting along shaded paths, providing low-growing texture and exceptional spring color contrast. Because the foliage of Lungwort holds up well visually, it pairs wonderfully with plants that offer late-season interest, such as ferns or hostas whose fans may appreciate the early season display from the Pulmonaria. Mass planting ensures the best visual impact for both the silver-spotted leaves and the magenta-pink flowers.
Standout Features
Flower Qualities
- Showy
Noteworthy Characteristics
Pulmonaria is a genus valued for its deciduous or evergreen herbaceous perennials, often selected more for attractive foliage than for ephemeral spring flowers. The common name, lungwort, stems from a historical belief that the spotted leaves resembled diseased lungs, leading medieval herbalists to prescribe it for respiratory ailments, though this is scientifically unfounded. The specific cultivar ‘Victorian Brooch’ delights with its basal clumps of rounded leaves featuring attractive silver spotting, from which emerge drooping clusters of funnel-shaped, magenta-coral pink flowers in spring.
Tolerances
- Deer
- Heavy Shade
- Black Walnut
Potential Problems
This Lungwort generally exhibits few serious insect or disease issues, offering low maintenance rewards. The most common insect nuisances tend to be slugs and snails, which must be managed if populations are high, targeting them primarily during damp periods. A more significant potential issue for some Pulmonaria varieties, which can affect Pulmonaria ‘Victorian Brooch’, is powdery mildew, particularly if the plants experience drought stress during hot summer weather. Always ensure consistent moisture and good air circulation to mitigate fungal risks.
Frequently Asked Questions
What hardiness zones is Lungwort suitable for?
Pulmonaria ‘Victorian Brooch’ is reliably hardy in USDA Zones 4 through 8.
How large does Pulmonaria ‘Victorian Brooch’ grow?
This perennial typically reaches a mature height between 0.75 and 1 foot tall, spreading to a width of 1 to 1.5 feet.
When does Lungwort bloom?
The magenta-pink flowers of Pulmonaria ‘Victorian Brooch’ are typically displayed from April into May.
What sun exposure does Lungwort need?
This plant thrives best in part shade to full shade conditions, requiring protection from intense afternoon sun.
Conclusion
Pulmonaria ‘Victorian Brooch’ excels as a reliable, low-maintenance feature for deep shade, offering both year-round mottled foliage and delightful spring color. This Lungwort provides essential texture and contrast that uplifts dark garden corners. Ensure you amend your soil for excellent drainage and consistently deliver medium water levels to help Pulmonaria ‘Victorian Brooch’ perform optimally this season.
Companion Planting
When integrating Pulmonaria ‘Victorian Brooch’ into a shade garden scheme, focus on companions that share its preference for moist, organic soil and protection from harsh sun. Hostas are ideal partners, as their bolder foliage silhouettes nicely against the fine texture of the Lungwort, and they occupy the same height stratum. Ferns, such as Japanese Painted Ferns or Autumn Ferns, also complement the silver spotting of the foliage beautifully while thriving in similar dark, cool environments.
Consider using spring-flowering bulbs, like Daffodils or Snowdrops, to extend the seasonal show just before the Lungwort reaches its peak bloom. Once the bulbs fade, the vibrant foliage of Pulmonaria ‘Victorian Brooch’ takes over the visual foreground in the shady border area.
Propagation Tips
The primary method for increasing your stock of Pulmonaria ‘Victorian Brooch’ is through division, a process best undertaken in the fall. As the plant slowly spreads via creeping roots, clumps will eventually become overcrowded, generally necessitating division every three to four years for best health and flowering performance. Dig up the entire clump, gently tease apart the root sections, ensuring each division has several healthy growth points attached, and replant immediately into prepared, moist soil.
While propagation by division is straightforward, seed collection is less common for named cultivars like ‘Victorian Brooch’ as they are often sterile or will revert to parent characteristics. Focus your efforts on division to maintain the exact silver-spotted foliage and consistent magenta-pink flower color associated with this specific Lungwort selection.
