Jacob's Ladder

These pretty Jacob’s Ladder (Polemonium) are a hardy perennial producing gorgeous bell-shaped vibrant blue flowers in early summer which contrast beautifully with the striking bronze and dark green foliage. They get the name Jacob’s ladder from the way in which the leaves alternate up the stems.

Polemonium are garden plants and will do best in a partially shaded spot in the garden but are also happy in a sunny location. The main thing is that they like the soil to be moist, but not waterlogged.

Growing to about 60cm in height, your Jacob’s Ladder will look lovely in a border or bed, although you can also plant them into a nice big container for the patio or balcony. Either way you can enjoy their beautiful deep blue blooms in early summer. Just make sure to water regularly to keep the soil moist if in a container.

When planting out, firstly give the Jacob’s Ladder a good soaking. Then remove it from its pot and pop it into a nice big hole prepared with some rich compost to help the plant’s roots settle in. Water the plant regularly for the first week or two, but once it is established it shouldn’t need a lot of extra watering unless we have a particularly dry spell.

Snip off the faded blooms to tidy up the plant, and once it has finished flowering you can cut it back to encourage a second flush of flowers later that summer. In autumn cut the faded flowerheads down to ground level, the leaves will die back naturally. Come the following spring, simply top dress with a little general fertilizer, and the plant will reward you with fresh new foliage and a lovely display of flowers.