lungwort
noun
lung·wort
ˈləŋ-ˌwərt 
-ˌwȯrt
-ˌwȯrt
: any of several plants (such as a mullein) formerly used in the treatment of respiratory disorders
especially
: a European herb (Pulmonaria officinalis) of the borage family with hispid leaves and usually bluish flowers
Examples of lungwort in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Hardy in zones 4-8, both deer and rabbits tend to steer clear of lungwort.
—
Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 20 May 2025
The lungwort variety produces blue or purple flowers and stunning foliage with an itchy surface that repels deer.
—Robert Knox, BostonGlobe.com, 25 May 2023
Palmer mentioned a lungwort (Pulmonaria) known as Lisa Marie with mammoth 18-inch-long speckled leaves in broad clumps topped by an abundance of flowers.
—Tovah Martin, Washington Post, 20 Apr. 2023
Among the plants to consider are ferns, Solomon’s seal, bleeding heart, lungwort, Virginia bluebells, hostas, hellebores, bishop’s hat, St. John’s wort, fragrant sumac and bottlebrush buckeye.
—Beth Botts, Chicago Tribune, 17 July 2022
There are a lot of ferns, mayapples, monks hood, goats beard, gooseneck loosestrife, iris of all kinds, daylilies, tiger lilies, spiderwort, lungwort and lamb's ear.
—Joanne Kempinger Demski, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 28 Aug. 2020
Hostas and ferns are popular choices, along with lungwort (Pulmonaria), Siberian bugloss (Brunnera), Canadian wild ginger (Asarum canadense), sweet woodruff (Galium odoratum) and bishop’s hat (Epimedium).
—Beth Botts, chicagotribune.com, 28 Aug. 2019
Try ferns, European wild ginger (Asarum europaeum), sedges (Carex spp.), lavender, lamiums (Lamium maculatum), sedums, and lungworts (Pulmonaria spp.).
—The Editors, Good Housekeeping, 13 Aug. 2018
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Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 20 May 2025
The lungwort variety produces blue or purple flowers and stunning foliage with an itchy surface that repels deer.
—Robert Knox, BostonGlobe.com, 25 May 2023
Palmer mentioned a lungwort (Pulmonaria) known as Lisa Marie with mammoth 18-inch-long speckled leaves in broad clumps topped by an abundance of flowers.
—Tovah Martin, Washington Post, 20 Apr. 2023
Among the plants to consider are ferns, Solomon’s seal, bleeding heart, lungwort, Virginia bluebells, hostas, hellebores, bishop’s hat, St. John’s wort, fragrant sumac and bottlebrush buckeye.
—Beth Botts, Chicago Tribune, 17 July 2022
There are a lot of ferns, mayapples, monks hood, goats beard, gooseneck loosestrife, iris of all kinds, daylilies, tiger lilies, spiderwort, lungwort and lamb's ear.
—Joanne Kempinger Demski, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 28 Aug. 2020
Hostas and ferns are popular choices, along with lungwort (Pulmonaria), Siberian bugloss (Brunnera), Canadian wild ginger (Asarum canadense), sweet woodruff (Galium odoratum) and bishop’s hat (Epimedium).
—Beth Botts, chicagotribune.com, 28 Aug. 2019
Try ferns, European wild ginger (Asarum europaeum), sedges (Carex spp.), lavender, lamiums (Lamium maculatum), sedums, and lungworts (Pulmonaria spp.).
—The Editors, Good Housekeeping, 13 Aug. 2018
Cite this Entry
“Lungwort.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lungwort. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
1
: any of several plants formerly used in the treatment of respiratory disorders
especially
: a European herb (Pulmonaria officinalis) of the borage family (Boraginaceae) with rough hairy leaves and bluish flowers
2
: a widely distributed lichen (Lobaria pulmonaria) formerly used in the treatment of bronchitis and now to some extent in perfumes and in tanning extracts
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