# Suffolk Lungwort (*Pulmonaria obscura*) Suffolk Lungwort is a lovely plant with soft, spotted leaves and pretty flowers. It blooms in early spring and can be found in shady places, making it a special sight in gardens and woodlands. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Woodlands ![Suffolk Lungwort](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Pulmonaria_obscura0_eF.jpg&width=800) Photo: CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pulmonaria_obscura0_eF.jpg) ## Appearance The Suffolk Lungwort is a low-growing perennial with hairy stems and dark green leaves. Its bell-shaped flowers start pink and gradually change to a beautiful blue or violet as they mature. Unlike some relatives, its leaves are usually unspotted, giving it a unique, uniform green appearance. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Boraginales - **Family:** Boraginaceae - **Genus:** Pulmonaria ## Interesting facts - Early spring is when many queen bumblebees emerge, and this plant is their first feast! - Even though it's called 'lungwort,' it’s actually totally safe to eat its young leaves in salads! - Its common name comes from being particularly found in Suffolk, England! - This plant often grows under trees in ancient woodlands, some of which are thousands of years old! ## Special abilities - **Color Changing Flowers:** Suffolk Lungwort has flowers that change color from pink to blue, helping signal to pollinators which flowers are freshest and contain nectar. - **Early Spring Food Source:** Suffolk Lungwort blooms very early, providing vital nectar and pollen for hungry insects like bees when other food sources are scarce. - **Hairy Defenses:** Suffolk Lungwort has hairy leaves and stems, which can deter some hungry herbivores from munching on its precious foliage. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 10-30 cm - **Spread:** 20-40 cm - **Flower Size:** 1-2 cm - **Bloom Season:** Spring - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** Mild - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Buff-tailed Bumblebee (*Bombus terrestris*) — Visits early spring flowers for nectar and pollen. - **Pollinates:** Western Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — An important early season food source for honey bees. - **Parasitizes:** Lungwort Rust Fungus (*Puccinia pulmonariae*) — A specific rust fungus that can grow on Lungwort leaves. - **Eats:** Spanish Slug (*Arion vulgaris*) — Generalist slug that may graze on its leaves if available. ## Traits - [Spotted](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spotted): Marked with spots or patches of a different color. - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Ornamental](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ornamental): Ornamental plants are cultivated primarily for their aesthetic appeal, enhancing landscapes and gardens with their attractive foliage, flowers, or form. - [Shade Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shade-tolerant): Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight. - [Spring Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spring-blooming): Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth. - [Medicinal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/medicinal): Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always look but don't touch plants unless you're with an adult. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Suffolk Lungwort? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Suffolk Lungwort? 10-30 cm ### How wide does Suffolk Lungwort spread? 20-40 cm ### How big are the flowers on Suffolk Lungwort? 1-2 cm ### When does Suffolk Lungwort bloom? Spring ### Is Suffolk Lungwort edible? Yes ### Is Suffolk Lungwort toxic? Mild ### What is Suffolk Lungwort's lifecycle? Perennial ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Suffolk Lungwort: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/suffolk-lungwort)