Pulmonaria 'Samourai' - LUNGWORT 'SAMOURAI' ('SAMURAI')

Long and narrow silver leaves, bluish flowers in mid to late spring.

Takes several years to mature-sized clumps. Leaves stay semi-evergreen foliage, but may become dormant in extended hot, dry spells. With adequate moisture, remains attractive all season.

Trim severely wilted foliage in midsummer to encourage new growth in the cooler fall months, you can also trim leaves with powdery mildew (if it appears).

'Samourai' (often writen as 'Sumurai' or even 'Samouri') is Plumonaria sacchara hybrid and is somewhat similar to 'Diane Claire' cultivar. It is suppose to be the winner in British lungwort trials.

Blooming Time: blooms for shorter period in April/May, the main ornamental feature are the leaves
Size: up to 12" tall x 12-18" wide
USDA Zones: 4 to 9
Culture: half shade to  full shade; prefers rich, well-drained, humusy soil but is adaptable to loam, clay and chalk
Moisture Needs: average to medium-moist. Tolerates dry shade,especially in cooler areas (Great Lakes area, Northeast coast)
Origin: bred by Didier Willery out of France by crossing his own cultivar, Pulmonaria 'Majeste,' with Pulmonaria longifolia var. cevennensis (native wildflower in the Cevennes Mountains in southern France)
Deer/Rabbit Resistant: yes / yes
Attracts Butterflies or Pollinators: yes / yes
Attracts Hummingbirds: yes
Pot Size: square 3.5" x 5" deep perennial pot
Plant Combinations: ground cover/in mass plantings, cottage garden, woodland garden, shade garden, wildlife garden, hummingbird or pollinator garden, beds and borders, underplanting shrubs/bushes, containers, along paths. The best looking combo is probably with narrow-leaved Carex (sedges) or perennials with smaller leaves like Dicentra eximia, Galium odoratum or Phlox divaricata and lower groundcovering plants.

Other good companions include for example Ajuga, Asarum, Aquilegia, Astrantia (in cooler regions), Dicentra spectabilis, Brunnera, Chrysogonum (half shade), Digitalis, Epimedium, Euphorbia amygdaloides, most of hardy Geranium and Geum (both in half shade), Gillenia, Heuchera and Heucherella, Helleborus, Hosta, Iris cristata and the Asian counterparts, Lamium, Lathyrus vernus, Polemonium, Polygonatum, Penstemon calycosus, Tricyrtis, Tiarella, Tradecantia, Viola or Waldsteinia and many others.

Other good combos are with spring ephemerals (Cardamine, Jeffersonia, Mertensia, Sanquinaria, Trillium) or with late blooming bulbs.

Picture Copyright: US Perennials nursery