PlantFiles: Jacob's Ladder
Polemonium caeruleum

Grows wild in England. It is a woodland plant for the shaded garden or for naturalizing in moist, leafy soil.

A handsome plant with long heads of hazy-blue showy flowers and finely divided foliage. When ripe, each anther bursts, releasing a mass of bright orange pollen, contrasting vividly with the blue of the petals. Creeping underground stems propagate the plant so that, given time, it forms extensive clumps. The common name derives from the ladder-like pattern made by the numerous parallel, narrow leaflets. A distant relative of the garden Phlox, Jacob's-ladder is widely cultivated for ornament, although many plants are the rarer white form, or an introduced variant with larger flowers. Until the Nineteenth Century in some parts of Europe, the species was thought to be effective in the treatment of syphilis and rabies. It was used in more ancient times against dysentry and toothache.

Splendid choice for cutting gardens, border edgings and rock gardens. Brightens shady areas. Plant in a well-drained locatoin and water generously. Protect from strong afternoon sun.

Four year old plant did not survive very cold winter which has frequent days and nights that hit between 0 and -20F. Not as hardy as noted in the entry here.

Grows very easily from seed. I think every seed that I winter sowed germinated. Has grown steadily all summer. Didn't bloom the first year. Looking forward to blooms next summer. In my yard it seems to grow the quickest in partial shade this year as we have had a lot of rain and very few sunny days overall. THe plants in more shade have been slower to grow.

There was a white cultivar in my garden when I moved in. The flowers are a little weedy-looking and grow on very long stems--some over five feet. The foliage is the same as the blue cultivars and very pretty. It is very vigorous and fights its way up through a mat of bishops weed that I have been unable to eradicate.

Self propagrates occasionally. Grows wild in parts of AK, and is a looked-for wild flower in the early spring. Grows on sunny mountain sides and doesn't seem to require a lot of water. It is blue up here with small and larger specimens.

This plant loves my garden -- it's invasive, trying to run over well-established hostas, peonies, and herbs; I'm having a tough time killing it off.

I bought one plant in early spring and it grew well for several months until the southern summer began. In spite of being planted in light shade, well mulched, and watered often, the plant died. However, I liked the plant enough that I am going to try again!

Lovely plant - we have this growing in moist, not well drained, clayish soil next to a Brunnera, and they're both thriving. And it's not pestered by snails/slugs, which is a bonus.

This plant grows well in semi shade. The plant I have is a self setter. I have no idea where it came from. It stands erect and has a height of 1 metre. It is very showy and the flowers are light blue in colour. It is growing beside astilbes, clematis and hydrangeas. It obviously enjoys a well watered spot.

I love the plant, but every one I've had died.

Mine barely seems to survive but has come back 2 yrs in zone 6.
Even when it was healthy- the flowers are very small and not very showy, Personally i find the foliage to be quite ugly and resemble a weed.
Not a easy grower!