This wonderful, but rarely available sport of Pulmonaria rubra was found at Beth Chatto's nursery in England and named after her propagator, David Ward. The large, hairy, light-green leaves are surrounded by a wide pure-white border. In spring the clumps are topped with brick red flowers, typical of Pulmonaria rubra. Pulmonaria 'David Ward' is a spectacular plant although somewhat difficult to grow, so we'd only recommend it for advanced gardeners. It requires a well-drained, but moist site for long-term success. 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. Pulmonarias don't require regular division but division is a means of propagation that the home gardener can employ to increase their display of pulmonarias. 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 amongst Pulmonarias;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. Pulmonarias are a member of the borage family, the Boraginaceae, and not readily eaten by rabbits and deer.
