Lungwort Pulmonaria Opal = 'Ocupol'

👤 Non-toxic to humans

🐾 Non-toxic to pets

🌸 Blooming

🍪 Not edible

‍🌱 Easy-care

ABOUT

Pulmonaria Opal, commonly referred to as Lungwort 'Opal', is a visually striking perennial known for its attractive foliage and blossoms. The plant features a lush mound of basal leaves that are often decorated with unique silver spots or splashes, giving them a distinctive appearance amidst garden greens. The leaves are oval to lance-shaped and boast a hairy texture, which adds to the visual interest of the plant. As spring arrives, Lungwort 'Opal' brings a refreshing display of flowers that emerge in clusters on erect, leafy stems above the foliage. The blooms undergo a charming color transformation, typically starting as pink buds and then maturing to a beautiful shade of blue as they fully open. The two-toned effect of the flowers during this transition phase adds a dynamic aspect to the plant's overall look. The floral display of Lungwort 'Opal' is not only visually appealing but also attracts pollinators such as bees and butterflies, which further enhances the plant's lively presence in a garden setting. With its decorative leaves and enchanting blossoms, Lungwort 'Opal' is a valuable addition to any shaded or partially shaded garden area, where it can provide a delightful splash of color and texture without the requirement of intense sunlight.

Plant Info

Care

Common Problems

About this plant

Names
- Family
  Boraginaceae.
- Synonyms
  Lungwort, Bethlehem Sage.
- Common names
  Pulmonaria Opal = 'Ocupol'.
Toxicity
- To humans
  The Pulmonaria, commonly known as lungwort, is not typically considered toxic to humans. There is no documented toxicity or serious consequences associated with ingesting parts of this plant. However, it is always advisable to exercise caution and avoid consuming plants that are not explicitly meant for ingestion to prevent any potential adverse reactions or allergies.
- To pets
  Lungwort is also not known to be toxic to pets. It does not pose a threat of poisoning if pets ingest it, and there should not be any symptoms of toxicity. Nevertheless, pets should not be encouraged to eat ornamental plants as a general precaution, and ingestion in large quantities could potentially cause mild stomach upset simply due to the ingestion of non-food plant material.
Characteristics
- Life cycle
  Perennials
- Foliage type
  Semi-deciduous
- Color of leaves
  Variegated
- Flower color
  Blue
- Height
  1 feet (30 cm)
- Spread
  1 feet 6 inches (45 cm)
- Plant type
  Herb
- Hardiness zones
  3
- Native area
  Europe

Benefits

General Benefits
- Attracts Pollinators: Pulmonaria Opal, commonly known as Lungwort, is favored by bees and other beneficial pollinators, providing them with a valuable source of nectar in the garden.
- Shade Tolerance: Lungwort thrives in shaded areas where other plants might struggle, making it an excellent choice for woodland gardens or as an understory plant.
- Early Bloomer: With its early spring blooms, Lungwort adds a splash of color to the garden when many other plants have yet to flower.
- Low Maintenance: Lungwort is known for being an easy-care plant, requiring minimal attention once established in the appropriate conditions.
- Drought Resistance: Once established, it has good drought tolerance, reducing the need for frequent watering during dry spells.
- Deer and Rabbit Resistant: Lungwort's textured foliage is generally not favored by deer and rabbits, making it a good choice for areas frequented by these animals.
- Deciduous Groundcover: As a clump-forming plant, Lungwort can serve as an attractive groundcover, helping to reduce weeds by covering the soil.
- Seasonal Interest: Offering both appealing foliage and flowers, it provides visual interest across multiple seasons.
- Good Companionship: Compatible with many other shade-loving perennials, it works well in a mixed border or as part of a woodland planting scheme.
Medical Properties
This plant is not used for medical purposes.
Air-purifying Qualities
This plant is not specifically known for air purifying qualities.
Other Uses
- Lungwort (Pulmonaria Opal 'Ocupol') leaves can be used to create a natural dye for fabrics. The leaves, when boiled, can impart a range of colors from green to brown, depending on the mordant used.
- Decorative Patterns for Shade Gardens: The spotted and variegated leaves of lungwort add texture and variety when planted among other shade-loving perennials.
- Crafting Inspiration: Artists and crafters can draw inspiration from lungwort's unique leaf patterns and colorful blooms for designs in textiles, paintings, and decorative arts.
- Educational Tool: Biology teachers may use lungwort to demonstrate plant adaptation, as its leaves change from spotted to solid to minimize sunlight damage.
- Photography Subject: Lungwort's vibrant spring blooms and attractive foliage make it an ideal subject for garden and macro photography enthusiasts.
- Thematic Garden Element: Gardeners could include lungwort in gardens specifically designed with a theme around the namesake 'lung' concept, like a "body parts" themed garden.
- Indicator Plant: Due to its preference for specific soil conditions, lungwort can be used by gardeners as an indicator plant to signify rich, moist, well-draining soils.
- Winter Garden Interest: When many plants have died back, the evergreen rosettes of lungwort provide a welcome green presence in a winter garden landscape.
- Living Mulch: Lungwort's ground-covering capability helps retain soil moisture and suppress weeds, making it a functional and aesthetic living mulch option.
- Lid for Compost: Some gardeners use the broad leaves of lungwort to cover up their compost bins, helping to keep the aesthetic of the garden and deter pests.

Interesting Facts

Feng Shui
Lungwort is not used in Feng Shui practice.
Zodiac Sign Compitability
Lungwort is not used in astrology practice.
Plant Symbolism
- Lung Health: The genus name Pulmonaria is derived from the Latin word "pulmo," meaning lung. The plant was historically used medicinally to treat lung ailments, and thus it symbolizes lung health and recovery from respiratory illnesses.
- Healing and Restoration: Due to its associations with medicinal uses, Pulmonaria Opal, also known as Lungwort, often symbolizes healing and the restoration of health.
- Perseverance and Hope: Lungwort blooms early in spring, often while snow is still on the ground, making it a symbol of perseverance and hope amidst adverse conditions.
- Protection: Some ancient beliefs hold that Lungwort could ward off evil spirits and was planted around homes for protection.
- Sincerity: In the language of flowers, Pulmonaria plants sometimes represent sincerity due to their unassuming appearance yet valuable healing properties.
- Longevity: With its ability to thrive in shady areas and reappear year after year, Lungwort is sometimes a symbol of longevity and endurance.

💧

Every 1-2 weeks

Water

☀️

500 - 2500 Lux

Light

💦️

Humidity

🪴

Every 2-3 years

Repotting

🌱️

Spring-Early Summer

Propogation

✂️️

As needed

Pruning

Water
The Pulmonaria, also known as Lungwort, prefers soil that is consistently moist but well-drained. It should be watered deeply once or twice a week, depending on the climate and the soil's ability to retain moisture. During hot, dry spells, watering may need to increase to maintain moisture, especially for plants in full sun. Generally, Lungwort requires about one gallon of water per week; however, it's essential to avoid waterlogging to prevent root rot. Mulching around the base can help retain soil moisture.
Light
Lungwort thrives in partial shade to full shade conditions. The ideal spot for this plant is beneath deciduous trees where it can receive dappled sunlight or in a shady border that is protected from the harsh afternoon sun. Morning light with afternoon shade is also conducive for healthy growth, ensuring the plant doesn't suffer from leaf scorch due to excessive sunlight.
Temperature
Lungwort prefers cooler temperatures and will thrive in conditions that range between 50 to 75°F. It can survive minimum temperatures down to 20°F and maximum temperatures up to 80°F, but prolonged exposure outside of its ideal temperature range can cause stress to the plant. Offering protection like mulch or shaded planting can help regulate soil temperature and shield the plant in extreme weather.
Pruning
Lungwort benefits from pruning to remove any spent flower stems after blooming and to tidy up any damaged or yellowed leaves. This encourages a second flush of growth and keeps the plant looking clean. Pruning can be done as needed throughout the growing season, with a more thorough cleanup happening in the fall to prepare the plant for winter. The best time to prune is immediately after the first flowering period subsides.
Cleaning
As needed
Soil
Lungwort prefers a soil mix that is rich, moist, and well-draining, with a slightly acidic to neutral pH of about 6.0 to 7.0. A good mix can be achieved by blending garden soil with compost and peat moss to enhance fertility and water retention.
Repotting
Lungwort should be repotted every few years to refresh the soil and accommodate root growth. Generally, repotting can be done in the spring before the growing season begins.
Humidity & Misting
Lungwort thrives in moderate to high humidity levels, ideally around 50% or higher, which mimics its natural woodland habitat conditions.
Suitable locations
- Indoor
  Place Lungwort in bright indirect light and keep soil moist.
- Outdoor
  Plant Lungwort in part-shade and keep soil well-watered.
- Hardiness zone
  3-8 USDA
Life cycle
Pulmonaria 'Ocupol', commonly known as Opal Lungwort, begins its life as a seed that germinates in moist, well-drained soil, typically in partial to full shade. As a young seedling, this perennial plant focuses on developing a rosette of basal leaves, which are essential for photosynthesis and growth. As it matures, Pulmonaria 'Ocupol' enters a vegetative state, producing larger leaves with its distinctive silver-spotted foliage. Following this, the plant advances to its reproductive stage, typically in early to mid-spring, when it displays clusters of funnel-shaped flowers that start with a pink color and then mature to a striking blue, attracting pollinators. After flowering, it sets seed, which can be dispersed in the surrounding area for germination. The plant then enters a period of dormancy in the winter, conserving its energy underground through its rhizomes until the next growing season arrives.
Propogation
- Propogation time
  Spring-Early Summer
- Propogation: Pulmonaria Opal, commonly known as Lungwort 'Ocupol', is most effectively propagated through division. The best time to divide Lungwort is in the spring, just as the plant is beginning to show new growth but before it has fully leafed out. To propagate by division, carefully dig up the entire plant, ensuring to get a good portion of the root system. Then, using a sharp spade or knife, divide the plant into smaller sections, making sure that each section has at least one shoot and a portion of the root system. These divisions can then be replanted in a shaded to partially shaded area with well-draining soil, spaced about 12 inches (approximately 30 centimeters) apart to allow for growth. Water the new divisions well after planting to help establish them.