Jacob’s Ladder

Colorful Combinations

The flower color is primarily blue, but there are some pleasing pink and white options as well. Many varieties of Jacob’s ladder are also prized for their foliage. ‘Stairway to Heaven’ features crisp cream variegated foliage that looks good all season, even when not in bloom. Other species boast purple-tinged leaves in spring that fades to a deep emerald color. These plants hold their own in part shade, adding texture to any garden.

Jacob’s Ladder Care Must-Knows

These perennials grow well in some settings and are finicky in others. Jacob’s ladder prefers well-drained soil; it will not excessively wet soil for long periods. The plant thrives with rich, organic soils, so adding compost to poor soil is a good idea before planting. During extended dry spells, plan on additional watering to keep Jacob’s ladder looking lush.

Jacob’s ladder prefers shade, but is adaptable to sunlight conditions, depending on the cultivar. Solid green leaf varieties can handle full sun as long as they don’t dry out. Varieties with variegated foliage appreciate part shade to prevent burning their tender foliage. In deep, full shade, some variegated varieties may green up and be less vibrant. The key is to balance the appropriate amount of sun to keep the foliage looking good, while also finding the right amount to encourage the most blossoms. The bloom period of Jacob’s ladder is fairly short, so err on the side of keeping the foliage looking its best by focusing on overall plant health.

Little additional maintenance is needed to keep these plants looking nice. Deadhead spent blooms to prevent plants from wasting energy on seed production. Some varieties of Jacob’s ladder will naturalize by reseeding themselves around, so if you want to prevent the plant from spreading, keep up with deadheading.

More Varieties of Jacob’s Ladder

‘Brize D’Anjou’ Jacob’s Ladder

Polemonium caeruleum is not as floriferous as many others, but its leaves are dramatically rimmed with creamy white. It grows 2 feet tall. Zones 4-9

‘Touch of Class’ Jacob’s Ladder

This selection of Polemonium is a sport of ‘Stairway to Heaven’ that features even more cream edged foliage than usual, with the typical light blue flowers. Zones 3-7

‘Bresssingham Purple’ Jacob’s Ladder

This variety of Polemonium caeruleum bears large light purple flowers. It grows 2 feet tall. Zones 4-9

‘Stairway to Heaven’ Jacob’s Ladder

Polemonium reptans bears pink-and-white-edged leaves and lavender-blue flowers in early summer. It grows 2 feet tall. Zones 3-7

Jacob’s Ladder Companion Plants

Coralbells

Exciting new selections with incredible foliage patterns have put coralbells on the map. Previously enjoyed mainly for their spires of dainty reddish flowers, coralbells are now grown as much for the unusual mottling and veining of different-color leaves. The low clumps of long-stemmed evergreen or semi-evergreen lobed foliage make coralbells fine groundcover plants. They enjoy humus-rich, moisture-retaining soil. Beware of heaving in areas with very cold winters.

Phlox

Phlox are one of those bounteous summer flowers any large sunny flowerbed or border shouldn’t be without. There are several different kinds of phlox. Garden and meadow phlox produce large panicles of fragrant flowers in a wide assortment of colors. They also add height, heft, and charm to a border. Low-growing wild Sweet William, moss pinks, and creeping phlox are effective as ground covers, at the front of the border, and as rock and wild garden plants, especially in light shade. These native gems have been hybridized extensively especially to toughen the foliage against mildew problems; many recent selections are mildew-resistant. Phlox need amply moist soil for best overall health.

Candytuft

Sparkling white candytuft, with its cool evergreen foliage, brightens any rock garden or wall for several weeks in spring. At bloom time, plants are covered with umbels of pure white flowers that fade to pink. Compact selections are now available. Where happy, this plant will spread. Supply good drainage, and cut back spent flowers to keep plants neat.