(USPP 12,333 expired) This 2002 Terra Nova hybrid boasts one of the greatest names in horticulture...'Dark Vader' (a little horticultural parody). The dark green leaves on this vigorous clumper are nicely covered with large silver speckles. In very early spring, the deer-resistant clumps of Pulmonaria 'Dark Vader' are topped with sprays of flowers...both blue-purple and pink. Lungworts are great to blend with early bulbs such as crocus, scilla, and other similarly-colored spring bloomers. Maintenance: Pulmonarias are evergreen herbaceous perennials. They are grown as much for their spring floral display as for their evergreen silver spotted or entirely silvered foliage. Spent flower stalks are not attractive and need to be removed so the foliage can once again take center stage. They are readily cut down low enough so they are out of sight. If allowed to go to the seed they can produce seedlings which will not be true to type. Lungworts don't require regular division but division is a means of propagation that the home gardener can employ to increase their display. Growing Conditions: Pulmonarias want a bright shady or part shade location with moist well drained soil, neither soggy or dry. Garden Value: Pulmonarias are entirely worth growing for their early spring floral display. Cobolt blue is the most common flower color; a color that is fairly rare amongst flowers. Those cultivars with silver spotted or entirely silvered leaves add color to the shade garden most of the rest of the year and thus are of great value to those wanting color in their shade garden. Lungworts are a member of the borage family, the Boraginaceae, and not readily eaten by rabbits and deer.
