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Jacob's ladder is a tidy perennial, forming clumps with light green to dark green foliage. It flowers on upright stems, as clusters of bell shaped violet-blue flowers with bright yellow stamens. The leaves are long and attractively pinnate with leaflets that make them look rather fern or ladder-like - hence the common name.
It is native to Britain but not Ireland, and is uncommon, mainly found on rocky slopes and cliffs. Garden escapees are more widely distributed. It does well in shady flower beds, seeding freely, and would also be worth trying in a wildflower meadow. It was first recorded botanically by Merrett in 16661. , and is the only native member of its family in Britain
Garden varieties available from suppliers have relatively shorter leaflets and flowers less bell-shaped than in true wild specimens2. , and there are several cultivars available. Cultivar “Bambino Blue” is on the RHS Plants for pollinators list. This species is not listed on the BRC database of food plants but the family as a whole3. is linked to a few species, mainly of flies.
References
1. Pearman, D. (2017). The Discovery of the Native Flora of Britain and Ireland, Botanical Society of Britain & Ireland. P.312
2. C. D. Pigott (1958) Polemonium caeruleum L. Journal of Ecology, Vol. 46:507-525
Page written and compiled by Steve Head
Jacob’s ladder Polemonium caeruleum
Family Polemoniaceae Phlox family
Clump-forming perennial to 30cm height and 45cm spread
Flowering - June-July
Soils - All well-drained soils
Position - Full sun or preferably partial shade
Jacob’s ladder Polemonium caeruleum
Clump-forming perennial to 30cm height and 45cm spread
Flowering - June-July
Soils - All well-drained soils
Position - Full sun or preferably partial shade
Jacob's ladder is a tidy perennial, forming clumps with light green to dark green foliage. It flowers on upright stems, as clusters of bell shaped violet-blue flowers with bright yellow stamens. The leaves are long and attractively pinnate with leaflets that make them look rather fern or ladder-like - hence the common name.
It is native to Britain but not Ireland, and is uncommon, mainly found on rocky slopes and cliffs. Garden escapees are more widely distributed. It does well in shady flower beds, seeding freely, and would also be worth trying in a wildflower meadow. It was first recorded botanically by Merrett in 16661. , and is the only native member of its family in Britain
Garden varieties available from suppliers have relatively shorter leaflets and flowers less bell-shaped than in true wild specimens2. , and there are several cultivars available. Cultivar “Bambino Blue” is on the RHS Plants for pollinators list. This species is not listed on the BRC database of food plants but the family as a whole3. is linked to a few species, mainly of flies.
References
1. Pearman, D. (2017). The Discovery of the Native Flora of Britain and Ireland, Botanical Society of Britain & Ireland. P.312
2. C. D. Pigott (1958) Polemonium caeruleum L. Journal of Ecology, Vol. 46:507-525
Page written and compiled by Steve Head
Garden Wildplants
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