The Jacob’s ladder plant, also known as Polemonium caeruleum, is a beautiful flowering plant that has delicate, bell-shaped blooms. This hardy perennial is a favorite in gardens thanks to its attractive foliage and long-lasting flowers. In this article, we’ll look at some stunning pictures of this eye-catching plant and discuss how to grow and care for Jacob’s ladder in your own yard.
An Overview of the Jacob’s Ladder Plant
Jacob’s ladder is native to Europe and Asia and can be found growing wild in woodlands and along stream banks. The plant gets its name from the ladder-like arrangement of its leaves and the shape of its flowers, which early observers thought resembled the biblical Jacob’s ladder to heaven.
This plant is also commonly called Greek valerian and blue-bloom. In the same family as flowering plants like phlox and gilia, it is called Polemoniaceae. Jacob’s ladder is a herbaceous perennial, which means it dies back to the ground every winter and grows back in the spring.
The Beautiful Blue Blooms of Jacob’s Ladder
The Jacob’s ladder plant’s bright blue flowers are one of its most noticeable features. They are made up of five petals that are fused together into a bell or funnel shape with a flared opening. The flowers grow in loose clusters on tall stems that can be anywhere from one to three feet high, depending on the variety.
The flowers typically emerge in late spring to early summer. Some varieties like ‘Brise d’Anjou’ have a second flowering in fall if spent blooms are deadheaded. The blue blooms of Jacob’s ladder pair beautifully with other cottage garden flowers like daisies, foxglove and lavender.
The Delicate, Fern-like Foliage
In addition to its flowers, Jacob’s ladder is prized for its attractive foliage The leaves are deeply cut and fern-like with a lush green color They grow in an alternating pattern up the stems, resembling the rungs of a ladder which gives the plant its common name.
The foliage forms a tidy clump or mound shape. Some types, like “Snow and Sapphires,” have beautiful silver-blue leaves that look great with the blue flowers. You can plant the lush leaves in borders, rock gardens, or containers.
How to Grow Jacob’s Ladder
Jacob’s ladder thrives in cool, moist climates. Hardiness zones 3–9 can grow it, but zones 3–7 are where it does best. Depending on the type, this perennial grows between 1 and 3 feet tall and 1 to 2 feet wide.
Site and Soil
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Choose a site with partial shade to full sun exposure. The foliage will scorch in hot afternoon sun.
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Well-drained soil is essential. Wet, poorly drained sites will cause the roots to rot.
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Amend clay soils with compost or peat moss to improve drainage.
Planting
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Start with young nursery plants or divisions in spring after the last frost.
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Space plants 12-18 inches apart in rows or groups.
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Dig a hole no deeper than the root ball and set the crown at soil level.
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Water thoroughly after planting and apply a 2-inch layer of mulch around plants.
Care
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Water weekly during the first year to establish an extensive root system.
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Apply a balanced organic fertilizer in early spring.
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Remove spent flower stems to encourage reblooming.
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Cut back foliage to the ground after it dies back in late fall.
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Divide congested clumps every 3-4 years in spring.
Problems
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Requires staking if grown in too much shade or overfertilized.
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Can develop mildew on foliage in hot, humid climates.
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May be subject to leaf miners, aphids, beetles and spider mites.
Stunning Photos of Jacob’s Ladder in Gardens
The beautiful blue and green color palette of Jacob’s ladder makes it a star player in flower beds, borders and containers. Here are some stunning photos of this plant adding a pop of color and texture to gardens:
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The delicate bell-shaped blooms and lacy foliage create a graceful effect in groupings or cottage garden mixes. The vibrancy of the blue flowers also makes a bold statement in rock gardens, edges and pathways.
Uses for Jacob’s Ladder in the Landscape
With its delicate beauty and adaptable nature, Jacob’s ladder can be used in various ways in the home landscape:
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Mass in borders or beds for an attention-grabbing display of blue.
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Use as a groundcover or edging plant along paths or walls.
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Allow it to naturalize in woodland settings or shady slopes.
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Combine it with ferns, astilbe and other shade plants.
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Feature it in rock gardens or alpine troughs.
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Grow in containers on patios, decks and entryways.
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Cut blooms for fresh-cut arrangements and bouquets.
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Plant it as an elegant filler in spring pots and window boxes.
No matter how you choose to use it, Jacob’s ladder’s elegant blooms and foliage are sure to put on a stunning display in the garden. With proper siting and care, this lovely plant will thrive for years of easygoing beauty.
Jacob’s Ladder (Polemonium reptans)
By Christopher David Benda
This wildflower is a spring ephemeral called Jacob’s ladder. The name “Polemonium” refers to King Polemon of Pontus. This is the type genus of the Phlox family (Polemoniaceae). The species epithet “reptans” means “creeping” referring to the creeping habit of this plant. The compound pinnate leaves look like a ladder, which is a reference to a ladder that the biblical Jacob saw in a dream, which is how the plant got its name, Jacob’s ladder.
This herbaceous perennial is a spring ephemeral wildflower. Its flowering stems are low to the ground, but also tend to droop to the side, giving the plant a sprawling look. The flowers are a shade of blue that is seldom seen in the forest. Comprised of five petals that are bell-shaped (campanulate), they occur in loose panicles of nodding inflorescences. The stigma extends beyond the stamens, preventing self-pollination.
Bees and lepidopterans pollinate the flowers. Fertilized flowers become capsules that contain only a few seeds. There are few known medicinal uses, but Native Americans would treat colds, coughs, and ailments of the lungs with infusion of the roots with wine.
This perennial plant is found in rich, shaded, moist woods. Although it is a spring ephemeral, it seems to persist vegetatively well into the summer. It grows from seeds, so you can find it a lot in the Midwest, Appalachians, and Great Lakes.
Jacobs Ladder (Heaven Scent): A Colorful and Fragrant Plant for the Shade Garden
FAQ
Do Jacob’s ladder plants come back every year?
Common Problems With Jacob’s Ladder Do Jacob’s ladder plants come back every year? Polemonium caeruleum is a long-lived perennial in the right conditions and if it is fed properly.
Do Jacob’s Ladder plants like sun or shade?
Jacob’s Ladder plants generally prefer partial to full shade, but they can also tolerate some sun, especially in cooler climates.
Is Jacob’s ladder an invasive plant?
Invasiveness: Jacob’s Ladder grows in well-behaved clumps, is not invasive, and has controlled spread. Its seeds, post-flowering, may drop and germinate, creating new plants. This gentle self-seeding fills garden spaces naturally but remains manageable.
Does Jacob’s ladder plant spread?
Yes, Jacob’s Ladder (Polemonium) plants do spread, but not aggressively. They spread primarily through self-seeding and by producing offsets from underground stems called rhizomes.