• Eventual Height: 0.8m
  • Eventual Spread: 0.3m
Jacobs ladder Jacobs ladder

Polemonium caeruleum

Jacobs ladder

size: 2 litre pot   available to order from spring 2012    

pot size guide add to wish list


  • Position: full sun or partial shade
  • Soil: fertile, moist, well-drained soil
  • Rate of growth: average
  • Flowering period: June
  • Hardiness: fully hardy

    Jacob's Ladder gets its name from the arrangement of its leaves – pairs of opposite leaflets resembling a ladder. In early summer, erect stems rise up from the bright green foliage carrying clusters of bell-shaped, lavender-blue flowers. A cottage-garden favourite, Jacob's Ladder is happiest in partial shade, and looks equally at home in a wildlife garden setting or in grass. Although it is short-lived, it self seeds freely.

  • Garden care: Cut the plant back after flowering to encourage a second flush of flowers. In autumn cut the faded flowerheads down to the ground and compost the dead stems.

  • Eventual Height: 0.8m
  • Eventual Spread: 0.3m
Polemonium caeruleum - Jacobs ladder Bell-shaped, lavender-blue flowers in early summer.