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Perennials
Versatile in garden settings
Attracts beneficial pollinators
Thrives in shady areas
Thrives in
ZONE 3ZONE 4ZONE 5ZONE 6ZONE 7ZONE 8Planting Season:
Year-RoundJacobs Ladder is a perennial wildflower with pinnate leaves and delicate, bell-shaped, blue to purple flowers arranged along its arching stems, adding grace to shady garden settings. It is a charming and distinctive perennial plant that offers many benefits when incorporated into landscaping designs. With its delicate clusters of bell-shaped flowers and elegant fern-like foliage, it brings a touch of enchantment and versatility to outdoor spaces.
Jacobs Ladder is officially known as Polemonium reptans or simply Polemonium. It's part of the Polemoniaceae or Phlox family and is sometimes called the American Greek valerian, stairway to heaven, sweet root, and abscess root. Many of its names reference the arrangement of the flowers, which can look like stairs or a ladder. The name is also a reference to a biblical story in the book of Genesis where one of the characters, Jacob, has a dream about a stairway to heaven. The Polemonium is a herbaceous perennial that is native to North America.
It is known for its bell-shaped blue or purple-colored flowers. The flowers usually grow to a height of about three-fourths of an inch and have five stamens. The plant tends to grow low to the ground, only reaching heights and widths of about one to two feet. This wildflower is known for its compounding leaves, meaning many leaves grow from one stem.
It accompanies trees and shrubs and can brighten up woodland and shade gardens, especially in the spring when its flowers bloom. They also perform well in perennial borders where many other plants are taller than the stairway to heaven.
It can be planted next to different trees, shrubs, and flowers. Some beneficial companion plants include hostas, lady ferns, lungwort, foam flowers, and coral bells. It also thrives next to spring beauties, Virginia water leaves, and oriental poppies.
Jacobs Ladder makes a great addition to flower and pollinator gardens. The bell-shaped flowers typically attract a wide variety of bees, butterflies, and birds, especially hummingbirds. These wildflowers can add color to many different types of outdoor gardens. Apartment and condo gardeners can enjoy planting it in pots or containers for balcony gardening or as an indoor plant to add color and life to their inside spaces.
Bloom Season
Spring
Bloom/Foliage Color
Purple
Height at Maturity
Under 12"
Care
Jacob's Ladder (Polemonium caeruleum) prefers well-drained soil enriched with organic matter. Keep the soil consistently moist but not soggy—mulch to retain moisture and suppress weeds. Regular deadheading promotes more blooms. Separate clusters every few years to preserve vigor.
Plant Reproduction
Jacobs Ladder spreads by reseeding itself and by rhizomes.
Planting bare-root perennials is best in any season if they are dormant; we only sell dormant plants. Planting them year-round is also excellent if you can get dormant perennials. When your bare-root perennials arrive, soak the roots in water for a few hours to rehydrate them. Lant by digging a hole wide enough to spread the roots comfortably and deep enough to place the top portion crown (where the roots meet the stem) at or slightly above ground level. Position the plant in the hole, backfill with native soil, and gently firm the soil around the roots—water well after planting to settle the soil around the plant and eliminate air. Apply a 2-3 inch layer of mulch to keep weeds at bay and moisture locked in, keeping the mulch away from the crown. Irrigate plants regularly during the first few weeks of drought; never water in full sun, and water late in the evenings to ensure the roots are established well. Fertilize sparingly in the first year, using a balanced, slow-release fertilizer in subsequent years as needed.
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Elegant Foliage:
Features distinctive, ladder-like leaves that create a unique and attractive texture in the garden.
Long Blooming Period:
Offers extended blooms, providing lasting color and interest throughout the growing season.
Companion Planting:
Works well alongside other perennials and shrubs, enhancing garden variety and creating attractive plant combinations.
Attracts Pollinators:
The bell-shaped flowers draw a variety of bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, making Jacob's Ladder a valuable addition to pollinator gardens
Caring Tips
Each box contains detailed care instructions and information about your product. But here's the basics.
Care Tips
Jacob's Ladder (Polemonium caeruleum) prefers well-drained soil enriched with organic matter. Keep the soil consistently moist but not soggy—mulch to retain moisture and suppress weeds. Regular deadheading promotes more blooms. Separate clusters every few years to preserve vigor.
Light Requirements
Jacob’s Ladder (Polemonium caeruleum) thrives in partial to full shade. It prefers dappled sunlight or filtered light conditions, making it ideal for woodland gardens or shaded areas where it can avoid direct, harsh sunlight.
Hardy Planting Zones
3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8
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