Northwest Blooms · Perennials
Pulmonaria angustifolia 'Blue Ensign'
Blue Ensign Lungwort

- Family
- Boraginaceae
- Height
- 12 to 18 inches
- Width
- 18 to 24 inches
- Flower color
- Intense cobalt blue flowers held above the foliage
- Foliage color
- Narrow deep green leaves forming a dense clump
- Bloom time
- Early to mid spring
- Light
- Partial shade to full shade
- Water
- Even moisture
- Maintenance
- Low; cut back tired foliage after flowering to promote fresh new growth
- Growing zone
- USDA zones 4 to 8
- Wildlife
- Attracts bees and other early season pollinators
About this plant
Pulmonaria angustifolia 'Blue Ensign' forms low clumps of narrow, deep green leaves with a smooth surface and elongated shape that creates a tidy, refined mound. In early to mid spring, upright stems carry clusters of intense cobalt blue flowers that open above the foliage, providing clear color at a time when many shade plantings are just emerging.
The species is native to central and eastern Europe, where it grows in open woodland and meadow margins. In garden settings, 'Blue Ensign' suits shaded borders, woodland paths, and underplanting beneath deciduous shrubs, offering early nectar and dependable spring presence.
Works well in
Borders · Shade Gardens · Woodland Gardens · Pollinator Gardens · Rain Gardens
Companion plants
Astilbes · Heucheras · Siberian bugloss · Sweet woodruff · Foamflowers · Epimediums
Design tip
The early flowers arrive when the garden is still waking up, so give it a spot you pass often in spring. Keep it out of hot afternoon sun and layer it with woodland companions for a full, settled look.
Where to see it
This plant can be seen at the Bellevue Botanical Garden.
