Polemonium reptans (Jacob's Ladder) is a classic spring woodland perennial with airy, pinnate foliage that looks like the rungs of a ladder and loose clusters of nodding, bell-shaped flowers in blue to blue-lavender. You will appreciate it most in cool, moisture-retentive garden spots where early-season color matters and the foliage adds a fine-textured backdrop for other shade plants.

Plant it in part shade for best performance, though it can handle morning sun where the soil stays evenly moist. Aim for humus-rich, well-drained soil and avoid hot, dry locations; prolonged drought can cause it to go dormant. Mature plants typically form clumps about 12-18 inches tall with a similar spread, and they may slowly creep by rhizomes while also self-sowing in favorable sites.

In USDA Zones 3-8, use Jacob's Ladder along woodland edges, beside paths, or on gentle slopes and banks that stay moderately moist. After flowering, you can shear or tidy spent stems to keep the mound neat and encourage fresh growth. Divide clumps in early spring or late summer if you want to increase plants or rejuvenate older clumps.

Specifications

• Cold hardiness zone: 3-8 (-40 degrees F) - Contact your local extension to confirm hardiness if you are in a fringe zone (we cannot guarantee hardiness in fringe zones)
• Light: Full sun   Part sun
• Mature height: 12-18"
• Spread: 12-18"
• Tolerant of: Deer
• Spreads by creeping: Yes
• Native to the U.S.: Yes
• Good for slopes: Yes

Shipping

FREE SHIPPING - Classy Groundcovers offers free shipping, and your plants never spend more than three days in transit.

Precise delivery - another benefit from shopping with us is that you know hpw to control exactly when your order will be shipped.

Shipping information that applies to all plants:
- You May Specify Your Shipping Date
- Lookup Shipping Date and Tracking Information
- Special Delivery Instructions
- Changing Your Shipping Date
- Accepting Delivery
- Unpacking Your Order
- Returns

Care