Belonging to the Polemonium genus, Jacob's ladder has a botanical name of Polemonium caeruleum.
Blooms appear in these approximate colours: Blue-violet and White, and typically produces a very strong grape kool-aid like fragrance. The mature flowers are of a single form. Leaves appear approximately as a Celadon Green
It is a flower / herb that typically grows as a perennial, which is defined as a plant that matures and completes its lifecycle over the course of three years or more.
Normally growing to a mature height of 70.0 cm (2.27 feet), Jacob's ladder grows with a erect habit. This plant tends to bloom in mid summer.
This plant is a great attractor for bees, so if you are looking to attract wildlife Jacob's ladder is a great choice.
Due to how easy it is to grow in a variety of conditions, Jacob's ladder is great for beginner gardeners and those that like low maintainance gardens.
This plant info is provided by the myfolia gardener's wiki. All details about Jacob's ladder have been kindly provided by our members.
Dappled Sun
ORPartial Sun
High
Divide the rootball every 3-4 years carefully as roots are tender.
Will tolerate full sun only in climates with cool summers. Part shade is best.
Deadhead to prolong blooming throughout the season.
Contrary to the above information, my seed germinated in SIX days and my plants bloom in late spring and early summer.
Try to plant in a location that enjoys dappled sun / partial sun and remember to water often. Use Zone 3 - Zone 7 as your guideline for the appropriate climate for this plant. A soil ph of between 5.5 and 7.5 is ideal for Jacob's ladder as it does best in weakly acidic soil - weakly alkaline soil. Keep in mind when planting that Jacob's ladder is thought of as hardy, so it can be safe to leave outdoors for the majority of winter (although if in doubt, using a row cover is often a good idea).
See our list of companion Plants for Jacob's ladder to see which plants you should plant in close proximity to encourage growth.
Sow direct into the ground early spring or early summer. Self seeds freely.
Ensure a seed sowing distance of 7.02 inches (18.0 cm). Soil temperature should be kept higher than 19°C / 66°F to ensure good germination.By our calculations*, you should look at sowing Jacob's ladder about 56 days before your last frost date .
These estimates for how long Jacob's ladder takes to sprout, grow and harvest are from real observations from real gardeners, right around the world.
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Average 56 days | Min 33 days | Max 98 days (4)
Average 15 days | Min 15 days | Max 15 days (1)
Average 69 days | Min 69 days | Max 69 days (1)
Our when to plant Jacob's ladder estimates are relative to your last frost date.
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The botanical epithet is from the Latin caerulea meaning “off whitein color”, “creamy” or “almost blue”.1
The ancient Greeks used this plant to treat dysentery, toothaches, and bites.
Greek valerian, Jacobs Ladder
Polemonium caeruleum L.
plant did not survive the winter
CraftyGardener about growing Jacobs Ladder
Beautiful plant! Extremely fragrant flowers produced in late spring/early summer, smelling of grape kool-aid. Best in light shade. Requires ample watering but good winter drainage.
orientallily about growing Jacob's Ladder
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