Stairway To Heaven, that's Jacob's Ladder

Saturday, July 17, 2010 05:26 AM

Jacob's Ladder is a perennial with some history behind it. It has been cultivated since Roman times and used medicinally in Ancient Greece.

Also known as the herb 'Valerian' and is said to attract cats and rats which according to folklore helped gather the rats for the Pied Piper of Hamelin.

Jacob's Ladder (Polemonium) gets its common name from the way the unique fern like leaves are arranged. Pairs of individual leaflets that are opposite to each other resemble the ladder that Jacob from the biblical story dreamt went to heaven. This upright perennial has pretty blue, white, or pink bell shaped fragrant flowers that grow in clusters which rise above the foliage. These flowers also make pretty cut flowers.Depending on variety Jacob's Ladder can grow 30-75 cm tall and spread 30-50 cm. Foliage is green, variegated cream or green, or purple. The 'Bressingham Purple', is not as hardy (zone 4) so would need extra winter protection .

The variegated variety 'Stairway to Heaven' is pretty as the leaves are green with creamy white margins and a tinge of pink and blue flowers. This variety will grow in full sun to part shade. We have had one in our landscape at home and it has survived several winters and continues to do well.

This native to North America is a good choice for naturalizing and does best when grown in partial shade in a moist well drained soil. Naturalize them in woodland gardens, or use them in rock gardens, as borders or in containers. They do best in cooler climates and do not thrive in hot dry conditions, or should not be allowed to dry out, but they also do not like to stand in water for any length of time.

If given the right growing conditions they will do very well and will easily re-seed themselves.

To lengthen the flowering period or get a second flush of flowers, deadhead the finished flowers and then you also do not have to worry about them self seeding. If however you want to have some new little plants, then just leave the last few stems of flowers on the plant so that the seeds can mature and sow themselves.

Jacob's Ladder are rarely bothered by pests or disease.

If they get too much sun, the leaves can be scorched, and if this happens, cut the stems back and give the plant a good drink of water which should help encourage a new fall flush of growth. This clump forming perennial is propagated by division or seed. Every 3-4 years the plant can be divided and immediately replanted in either the spring or fall. Jacob's Ladder is certainly a perennial worth considering especially for that shady spot of the garden.

-Jos

Jos Van Hage owns and operates two Art Knapp Home and Garden Centres in Prnce George:

Highway 16 west at Kimball Road,

Highway 97 north at Northwood Pulpmill Road.

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