Red lungwort is native to southeastern Europe. A popular garden plant for many centuries, it can now be found as an introduced exotic in places such as Finland and Poland. Unlike the other dozen or so species of Pulmonaria, red lungwort does not have blue flowers (hence the Latin and common name).
‘Redstart’ red lungwort was evaluated by the Chicago Botanic Garden in its Appraisal of Pulmonaria for the Garden (PDF) and ranked as “fair” or three stars out of four. If you’re considering this early bloomer (or any other Pulmonaria) for your garden, it would be worthwhile to read the evaluation – it grades over fifty species and cultivars. The BBC Gardening site also has a small amount of information specific to ‘Redstart’.
Pulmonaria rubra ‘Redstart’ – Z6 – RHS Index of Garden Plants, Griffiths
Pulmonaria rubra ‘Redstart’ – Z5-8 – A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants, Brickell, Cole, Zuk
What a beauty! I want one for my garden now! (And in my garden, but that’s another story – 30 cm of snow and still winter). I have some sorts of P. rubra, but none with this vibrant red colour. We have P. officinalis wild in my area of Sweden. It’s gorgeous too! And what a lovely picture!