Family: Boraginaceae
Author: L.
Bibliography: Sp. Pl.: 135 (1753)
Year: 1753
Status: accepted
Rank: species
Genus: Pulmonaria
Vegetable: False
Observations: Europe
Description
Jerusalem cowslip, scientifically known as Pulmonaria officinalis, is a fascinating plant native to various regions across Europe. Renowned for its striking appearance and medicinal properties, this plant holds a special place in the botanical family Boraginaceae.
Pulmonaria officinalis is easily recognizable by its distinct, attractive flowers that typically bloom in early spring. The flowers exhibit a unique color transition; they start as a pinkish hue and gradually turn blue as they mature, providing a beautiful spectrum of colors within a single plant. This characteristic makes the Jerusalem cowslip highly appealing not only to gardeners but also to pollinators such as bees.
The foliage of the Jerusalem cowslip is equally distinctive. The leaves are lanceolate and often adorned with silvery spots, giving the plant a speckled appearance that catches the eye. This leaf patterning, combined with its floral display, ensures that Pulmonaria officinalis stands out in woodland gardens, shady borders, and even as ground cover in less sunny areas of the garden.
Beyond its visual appeal, Pulmonaria officinalis has a rich history of medicinal use. The plant has been traditionally employed in herbal medicine, particularly for treating respiratory ailments—hence its common name, lungwort. It is believed to possess qualities that aid in soothing the respiratory tract, making it a historical remedy for conditions such as bronchitis and coughs.
The appeal of Jerusalem cowslip is not only limited to its aesthetic and healing properties but also its ease of cultivation. It thrives in moist, well-drained soil and prefers partial shade to full shade, making it an excellent choice for areas where other plants might struggle. With proper care, it can form dense clumps that provide year-round ground cover.
Originally classified by the renowned botanist Carl Linnaeus in his seminal work, “Species Plantarum” in 1753, the enduring presence of Pulmonaria officinalis in gardens and herbaceous plantings is a testament to its enduring appeal and versatility. Whether you are a seasoned gardener or a beginner, the Jerusalem cowslip offers a wonderful addition to any plant collection with its blend of beauty, utility, and rich botanical heritage.
Common Names
Eng: bloody-butcher, boys-and-girls, common lungwort, hundreds-and-thousands, jerusalem cowslip, jerusalem-sage, joseph-and-mary, lungwort, mary-spilt-the-milk, soldiers-and sailors, spotted-dog, blue lungwort
Deu: echtes lungenkraut, geflecktes lungenkraut, gemeines lungenkraut, kleingeflecktes lungenkraut, geflecktes lungentrout
Dan: hvidplettet lungeurt
Fra: pulmonaire officinale
Swe: fläcklungört, fläckbladig lungört, skånsk lungört, vitfläckig lungört, fläckig lungört
Nld: gevlekt longkruid
Nno: lungeurt
Nob: lungeurt
Cym: llaeth bron mair, llys yr ysgyfaint, llysiau’r ysgyfaint, saets caersalem
En: Jerusalem cowslip, Jerusalem-sage, Joseph-and-Mary, Boys-and-girls, Hundreds-and-thousands, Soldiers-and sailors, Spotted-dog, Mary-spilt-the-milk, Lungwort, Bloody-butcher, Common lungwort, Spotted Dog, Blue lungwort
Ar: حشيشة الرئة
Az: Dərman ciyərotu
Eu: Biri-belar
Bg: Медуница
Ca: Freixurera
Zh: 蓝花肺草
Cv: Кăвак çеçпĕл
Hr: Plućnjak
Cs: Plicník lékařský
Da: Hvidplettet lungeurt
Nl: Gevlekt longkruid, Breed Longkruid
Et: Harilik kopsurohi
Fi: Rohtoimikkä
Fr: Pulmonaire officinale
Gl: Herba dos bofes
De: Kleingeflecktes Lungenkraut, Echtes Lungenkraut, Blauer Himmelschlüssel, Blaues Himmelschlüsselchen, Himmelschlüssel, Gemeines Lungenkraut, Geflecktes Lungenkraut, Geflecktes Lungentrout, Bockskraut, Dunkles Lungenkraut
Hu: Orvosi tüdőfű
It: Polmonaria maggiore
Kk: Дәрілік балшытыр
Lv: Dziedniecības lakacis
Lt: Vaistinė plautė
Mk: Велигденче
No: Lungeurt
Nb: Lungeurt
Nn: Lungeurt
Fa: سینهدارو
Pl: Miodunka plamista
Qu: Mulla qipuncha
Ro: Plămânărică
Ru: Медуница лекарственная
Sr: Плућњак
Sk: Pľúcnik lekársky
Es: Navadni pljučnik
Sv: Fläcklungört, Fläckbladig lungört, Skånsk lungört, Vitfläckig lungört, Fläckig lungört
Zh-tw: 藍花肺草
Tr: Ciğer otu
Uk: Медунка лікарська
Cy: Llysiau‘r ysgyfaint, Llaeth Bron Mair, Llys yr Ysgyfaint, Llysiau’r Ysgyfaint, Saets Caersalem
Synonyms
Distribution
- Albania (native)
- Austria (native)
- Belarus (native)
- Belgium (native)
- Bulgaria (native)
- Czechoslovakia (native)
- Denmark (native)
- France (native)
- Germany (native)
- Greece (native)
- Hungary (native)
- Italy (native)
- Netherlands (native)
- Poland (native)
- Romania (native)
- Sweden (native)
- Switzerland (native)
- Ukraine (native)
- Yugoslavia (native)
- Great Britain (introduced)
- New York (introduced)
- Ontario (introduced)
- Québec (introduced)
Additional Images
Flower
Taken Feb 28, 2021 by Valeria (cc-by-sa)
Taken Apr 18, 2019 by Adeline Adeline (cc-by-sa)
Taken Apr 6, 2018 by Stöffler Heinz (cc-by-sa)
Taken Mar 14, 2019 by harald (cc-by-sa)
Taken Mar 2, 2019 by Mio Cri (cc-by-sa)
Habit
Taken Jul 24, 2021 by Irmgard Groß (cc-by-sa)
Taken Apr 21, 2022 by Sabina Hartmann (cc-by-sa)
Taken Apr 30, 2022 by Kannmacher Jens (cc-by-sa)
Taken Apr 14, 2022 by Jule (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jan 1, 2020 by Milano Arianna (cc-by-sa)
Leaf
Taken Mar 17, 2022 by Ernst Fürst (cc-by-sa)
Taken Mar 1, 2020 by Arnaud Lestage (cc-by-sa)
Taken Oct 22, 2021 by J R (cc-by-sa)
Taken Mar 7, 2022 by Jörg Bauer (cc-by-sa)
Taken Aug 19, 2017 by Giulia (cc-by-sa)
Bark
Taken Mar 23, 2019 by Petra Marinko (cc-by-sa)
Taken Apr 24, 2020 by Andrei Contiu (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 1, 2022 by Steven Law (cc-by-sa)
Taken Mar 20, 2022 by alis (cc-by-sa)
Taken Mar 9, 2021 by Emma Franklin (cc-by-sa)
Other
Taken Feb 28, 2021 by Suzanne Berrier (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jul 15, 2019 by Photoflora – Benoit BOCK (©)
Taken Apr 2, 2021 by Jana Vovk (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jan 1, 1800 by Tela Botanica − Daniel MATHIEU (cc-by-sa)
Taken Mar 27, 2017 by Valerie Vuillot (cc-by-sa)
Fruit
Taken May 19, 2019 by Sandie (cc-by-sa)
Taken Mar 23, 2021 by Seb CARION (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 6, 2020 by Aaron Aitken (cc-by-sa)
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
Sources
- WFO (No URL)
- IPNI (No URL)
- GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/5341204)
- POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:120402-1)
- PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Pulmonaria officinalis L.)
Specifications
Growth habit: Forb/herb
Growth
Ph maximum: 7.5
Ph minimum: 7.0
Light: 5
Atmospheric humidity: 5
Bloom months: [‘apr’, ‘may’, ‘jun’]
Soil nutriments: 6