Pulmonaria 'Dark Vader'

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Pulmonaria 'Dark Vader'

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Kemper Code: A261

Common Name: lungwort
Zone: 4 to 8
Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
Family: Boraginaceae
Missouri Native: No
Native Range: None
Height: 0.75 to 1 foot
Spread: 1 to 1.5 feet
Bloom Time: April - May
Bloom Color: Blue, purple and pink
Sun: Part shade to full shade
Water: Medium
Maintenance: Low

Plant Culture and Characteristics

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Uses:		Wildlife:	Flowers:	Leaves:	Fruit:
Hedge	Suitable as annual	Attracts birds	Has showy flowers	Leaves colorful	Has showy fruit
Shade tree	Culinary herb	Attracts	Has fragrant flowers	Leaves fragrant	Fruit edible
Street tree	Vegetable	hummingbirds	Flowers not showy	Good fall color	Other:
Flowering tree	Water garden plant	Attracts	Good cut flower	Evergreen	Winter interest
Gr. cover (<1')	Will naturalize	butterflies	Good dried flower		Thorns or spines

General Culture:

Easily grown in average, medium moisture, well-drained soils in part shade to full shade. Prefers cool, organically rich, humusy soils that are kept consistently moist. Soils must not be allowed to dry out. Intolerant of wet, poorly drained soils however. Spreads very slowly by creeping roots. Divide plants in fall if they become overcrowded. Plant leaves may retain some color in warm winters.

Noteworthy Characteristics:

‘Dark Vader’ is a hybrid lungwort cultivar which, like many of the hostas, is perhaps valued more for its attractive foliage than for its flowers. Plant parents are P. ‘Victorian Brooch’ (female/seed parent) and unknown male/pollen parent. It is noted for its combination of dark, thick leaves with silver spotting and its compact habit. Basal clumps of long-petioled, oval to lance-shaped, dark green leaves have large silver spotting. Drooping clusters (terminal cymes) of funnel-shaped, blue, purple and pink flowers bloom on short stalks just above the foliage in spring. Foliage mound typically grows to 10” tall and can spread to 19” wide. Common name of lungwort is in reference to the supposed resemblance of the spotted leaves to a diseased lung. U. S. Plant Patent PP12,333 issued January 8, 2002.

Problems:

No serious insect or disease problems. Slugs and powdery mildew are occasional pests. Leaves can depreciate considerably in extremely hot weather and/or too much sun (scorch), particularly if soils are allowed to dry out.

Uses:

Best grown in groups or massed as a ground cover in shady areas. Woodland or shade gardens, shaded border areas or shaded areas of rock gardens. Also can be an effective edging plant for shady paths.