Plant of the week

PULMONARIA OFFICINALIS ‘SISSINGHURST WHITE’

LUNGWORT gets its name from its green leaves spotted with white, resembling diseased lungs. In sympathetic folk medicine, it was used to treat pulmonary infections. This small, springflowering herbaceous perennial grows to about 30cm and is a great pollinator. It prefers dappled shade in any moist but well-drained soil.

Its flowers are usually pinkish purple, but this variety with clusters of pure white flowers was found by Vita Sackville-West in her garden at Sissinghurst.