About
Pulmonaria 'Diane Clare' is a cultivar of Pulmonaria in the family Boraginaceae that flowers in spring from March to May. It belongs to a group of herbaceous perennials that produce basal rosettes from a slowly creeping rhizome and send up short, unbranched flowering stems. Leaves and stems in the genus are typically covered in hairs. Plants of Pulmonaria commonly form a compact clump, with flowering stems usually in the lower double-digit centimetres and a wider spreading habit.
About the genus
Pulmonaria (lungwort) is a genus of flowering plants in the family Boraginaceae, native to Europe and western Asia, with one species east to central Asia. According to various estimates there may be between 10 and 18 species found in the wild.
Wikipedia contributors, "Pulmonaria", CC BY-SA 4.0 — Pulmonaria
In the garden
Pulmonaria 'Diane Clare' sits within the genus Pulmonaria (family Boraginaceae), a group native to Europe and western Asia. Members of the genus are perennial, forming basal rosettes from a slowly creeping rhizome and bearing unbranched, bristly flowering stems; flowering occurs in the UK from March to May. Typical dimensions for the genus put flowering stems in the range of about 15–25 cm, with plants able to spread more broadly over time. The creeping rhizome means clumps establish slowly and can be managed by lifting and dividing when they thicken. Flowering stems arise above the basal leaves, so cutting away old flower stalks after bloom keeps the clump tidy. The rough, hairy stems and leaves are characteristic of the genus and help identify material during the growing season. Use Pulmonaria 'Diane Clare' where a low spring-flowering perennial is wanted at the front of a border or in drifts where its seasonal display from March to May is visible. Allow room for the clump to spread and monitor older plants for division every few years to maintain vigour; observe the March–May flowering window each year as the key seasonal feature of this cultivar.
