Species Jacob's ladder

Jacob's ladder

Polemonium caeruleum 'Snow and Sapphires'

Jacob's ladder (Polemonium caeruleum 'Snow and Sapphires') is a clump-forming perennial which is excellent in semi-shaded borders. It features plentiful spikes of white flowers with centres delicately surrounded by dusty sapphire-blue petals. The delicate, lacy foliage is deep blue-green which turns to purple-bronze in autumn, providing added interest and texture to your garden. It is low-maintenance and easy-to-grow, thriving in moist, well-drained soils, in full sun to part shade. It is an excellent cut flower, making it a great choice for pollinators and gardeners alike - what's not to love?

Cycle:

Herbaceous Perennial

Watering:

Average

Propagation:

Division,Cutting,Seed Propagation,Layering Propagation

Hardiness Zone:

4 - 8

Flowers:

Deep blue Flowers In Spring

Sun:

Full sun only if soil kept moist, Part sun/part shade

Fruits:

Fruits Ready In Fall

Leaf:

Yes

Leaf Color:

green

Growth Rate:

High

Maintenance:

Moderate

Care Level:

Medium

watering

Jacob's ladder requires moderate watering, as it prefers soil that is consistently moist, but not soggy. Water the soil until it is saturated, allow the soil to dry slightly between watering. During peak summer months, the plant may require watering more often. In the middle of winter, when the plant is dormant, water much less, approximately once every 2 weeks.

sunlight

Jacob's Ladder, or Polemonium caeruleum 'Snow and Sapphires', thrives best when planted in a location that receives approximately 4-7 hours of direct sunlight each day. Morning hours of sunlight are best, as the plant will benefit from the sun’s warming rays and protection from the scorching midday sun. The plant should also be protected from strong winds and intense afternoon light which can cause leaf scorching. This species also does best with indirect sunlight for part of the day.

pruning

Jacob's ladder (Polemonium caeruleum 'Snow and Sapphires') should be pruned in late spring or early summer after the flowers have faded. Remove any dead or damaged branches, as well as branches that cross each other, threatening to damage the plant's structure. When pruning, remove any dead blooms. Cut back stems that have bloomed, leaving a few inches for regrowth. Prune lightly to maintain the plant's desired shape. If the plant has become overgrown, more drastic pruning can be done in early spring to rejuvenate it.

Season

Fall
Winter
Spring
Summer
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Starts Flowering

Jacob's ladder typically starts flowering in April or May.

Harvest Fruit

The best time to start harvesting the fruits from Polemonium caeruleum 'Snow and Sapphires' is in July and August.

Hardiness Map