Pollinator plant

Lungwort

Pulmonaria officinalis

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Common names

14 names

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Catalogue language labels are reviewed separately from botanical source records.

English
  • Blue Lungwort[2]
  • Common Lungwort[2]
  • Jerusalem Cowslip[2]
  • Jerusalem Sage[2]
  • Lungwort[2][1]
  • Lungwort Complex
  • Mary's Tears[2]
  • Our Lady's Milk Drops[2]
Dutch
  • Gevlekt longkruid[1]
French
  • Pulmonaire officinale[1]
German
  • Geflecktes Lungenkraut[1]
  • Hänsel und Gretel[1]
Italian
  • Polmonaria[1]
  • Polomonaria maggiore[1]

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Pulmonaria officinalis — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy. This is a common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Geflecktes Lungenkraut — results[1].names[2]; taxon id 167599; Pulmonaria officinalis.
  • Hänsel und Gretel — results[1].names[28]; taxon id 167599; Pulmonaria officinalis.
  • Lungwort — results[1].names[1]; taxon id 167599; Pulmonaria officinalis.
  • Pulmonaire officinale — results[1].names[5]; taxon id 167599; Pulmonaria officinalis.
  • Polmonaria — results[1].names[3]; taxon id 167599; Pulmonaria officinalis.
  • Polomonaria maggiore — results[1].names[4]; taxon id 167599; Pulmonaria officinalis.
  • Gevlekt longkruid — results[1].names[9]; taxon id 167599; Pulmonaria officinalis.
[2] Pulmonaria officinalis — Plant Toolbox common names ↗

NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox; English common names in a United States horticultural reference.

Source records
  • Blue Lungwort — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(1); heading: Common Name(s):; Pulmonaria officinalis.
  • Common Lungwort — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(2); heading: Common Name(s):; Pulmonaria officinalis.
  • Jerusalem Cowslip — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(3); heading: Common Name(s):; Pulmonaria officinalis.
  • Jerusalem Sage — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(4); heading: Common Name(s):; Pulmonaria officinalis.
  • Lungwort — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(5); heading: Common Name(s):; Pulmonaria officinalis.
  • Mary's Tears — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(6); heading: Common Name(s):; Pulmonaria officinalis.
  • Our Lady's Milk Drops — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(7); heading: Common Name(s):; Pulmonaria officinalis.
Plant references

Source-backed information

Published observations for this plant. Each reference supports the information beside it.

Taxonomy
Pulmonaria officinalis is an accepted species in Catalogue of Life.

Taxonomic treatment in the August 2026 release; the catalogue record name is preserved.

Sources [1]
Botanical family
Boraginaceae

Family in the cited taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1]
Mature height
0.15–0.3 m

NC State Extension profile. Converted from the source range in feet and inches; mature size varies with growing conditions.

Sources [2]
Mature spread
0.3–0.46 m

NC State Extension profile. Converted from the source range in feet and inches; mature size varies with growing conditions.

Sources [2]
Plant habit
Clumping; Creeping; Horizontal; Rounded; Spreading

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Life cycle
Perennial

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Growth rate
Slow

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Foliage
Semi-evergreen

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Light
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight); Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Moisture and drainage
Good Drainage; Moist

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Soil texture
High Organic Matter

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Soil pH
Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)

NC State Extension profile. These source categories do not certify the catalogue’s numeric pH interval.

Sources [2]
Flowering season
Spring

NC State Extension profile. Seasons reflect the source region and do not verify the catalogue’s exact flowering months.

Sources [2]
Native range
Europe

NC State Extension profile. Origin reported by the source; this is not a claim of local nativeness.

Sources [2]
Reported wildlife attraction
Listed as attracting: bees.

NC State Extension profile. Broad wildlife categories; this does not establish flower visits by a named bee species or quantify nectar and pollen.

Sources [2]
Pollinator guidance
RHS includes Pulmonaria species in its Plants for Pollinators guidance.

Genus-level guidance, not a rating for this individual species or a particular cultivar. RHS planting guidance. Choose accessible flowers with pollen and nectar; reduced-resource and double-flowered forms may be unsuitable.

Sources [3] [4]
Catalogue ratings

Who this plant supports

Honey bees

Low suitability
Nectar value Low
Pollen value Low
Plant profile

About this plant

Lungwort Complex (Pulmonaria officinalis) is a herbaceous plant. It flowers from March to May.

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Catalogue of Life Pulmonaria officinalis — Catalogue of Life COL26.8

    COL26.8 (2026-08-20). Contributing checklist: Synonymic Checklists of the Vascular Plants of the World. This is taxonomic evidence, not an independent ecological study.

    Supports: TaxonomyBotanical family
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: NameUsage.tsv line 1091466; ID 4QGQF; rank species; status accepted
    • Botanical family: NameUsage.tsv line 1091466; ID 4QGQF; rank species; status accepted

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 4.0.

  2. NC State Extension Pulmonaria officinalis — Plant Toolbox

    NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. Growing conditions and seasons reflect its United States horticultural context.

    Supports: Mature heightMature spreadPlant habitLife cycleGrowth rateFoliageLightMoisture and drainageSoil textureSoil pHFlowering seasonNative rangeReported wildlife attraction
    Relevant sections
    • Mature height: Dimensions / Height
    • Mature spread: Dimensions / Width
    • Plant habit: Habit/Form
    • Life cycle: Life Cycle
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Foliage: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
    • Light: Light
    • Moisture and drainage: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Soil pH: Soil pH
    • Flowering season: Flower Bloom Time
    • Native range: Country Or Region Of Origin
    • Reported wildlife attraction: Attracts

    Source checked on .

  3. Royal Horticultural Society RHS Plants for Pollinators — Plants Of The World

    RHS planting guidance; applicable flower-form restrictions are retained. General recommendations do not measure local nectar or pollen production.

    Supports: Pollinator guidance
    Relevant sections
    • Pollinator guidance: Page 2, column 2, entry Pulmonaria species (top 247 pt)

    Source checked on .

  4. Royal Horticultural Society RHS Plants for Pollinators — Garden Plants

    RHS planting guidance; applicable flower-form restrictions are retained. General recommendations do not measure local nectar or pollen production.

    Supports: Pollinator guidance
    Relevant sections
    • Pollinator guidance: Page 2, column 2, entry Pulmonaria species (top 217 pt)

    Source checked on .