Jacobs Ladder Perennial

Jacobs Ladder perennial plants (scientific name - Polemonium) are popular among gardeners because of their beautiful flowers. The plant got its name thanks to the special leaves arrangement which remind you of a ladder. But the interesting foliage is not the main attraction of this plant - first of all it is highly valued for its exceedingly beautiful blue flowers.

The plant thrives in a partial shade: it is not tolerant of direct sunlight. Jacobs ladder grows up to between eighteen and thirty five inches in height, creating a beautiful mass of greenery. Its blooms, as mentioned above, are mostly in shades of blue colour, but there is also a white variety of flowers. It is a hardy plant which does not require too much care, of course this can depend on if the conditions of its natural environment are more or less replicated in your garden.

The soil should be moderately fertile, with a sufficient supply of organic matter. Jacobs Ladder will thrive in a well-drained soil: standing water will result in root rot. It will not tolerate clay soil as well: planted in clay, this perennial will live much less longer than it is supposed to live.

As most of the perennials, Jacobs Ladder is propagated by division. The best time for propagation is the beginning of spring. If you choose propagation from seed, you should remember that new plants will need much more care as they rarely come true from seed.

It is recommended to choose one of the following varieties:

Polemonium reptans is a short species which can reach up to twelve inches in height. It has a tendency to aggressive spreading, so if you want nice ground cover in your garden this would be a perfect choice. In addition, you will get elegant mid-blue flowers to decorate your garden.

‘Brise d’Anjou’ is a special variety of Jacobs Ladder: its fern-like leaves have yellow edges, so the whole plant looks spectacular the entire season, even when it’s not in bloom. When the weather is too hot, the plants tend to die, so make sure to plant it in a shady place. ‘Brise d’Anjou’ has mid blue flowers which look especially nice in combination with its original foliage.

If you live in hot climate zone, it is better to opt for a ’Snow and Sapphire’ - it is known as a weather tolerant variant of ‘Brise d’Anjou’. This variety is not afraid of direct sunlight, at least it does not “melt out” and die at once.

Polemonium caeruleum is a tall variety of Jacobs Ladder which is valued for its dark blue flowers. It is also known as Polemonium himalayanum, and if you look through the seed catalogs, most probably you will find this variant of its name.

Among the other popular varieties there are ‘Blue Pearl’ plants, ‘White Pearl’, ‘Pink Beauty’, 'Stairway to Heaven', ‘Lambrook Mauve’ and many more.

The Jacobs Ladder Perennial plant is known as a favourite of felines, and if it’s cut or bruised, the fragrance will attract cats immediately. They will gladly roll in the plant. There is no doubt that you will be equally delighted by the plant, even if you express your fondness in a different way.

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