- Botanical name: Polemonium reptans 'Stairway To Heaven'
- Common name: Jacob's ladder
- Family: Polemoniaceae
- Plant Type: Perennial
Blue
Variegation
- Key features:
- Dramatic foliage
- Flowers
Jacob’s ladder, Polemonium, is a lovely clump-forming perennial, requiring little maintenance. It performs best in borders with moist but well-drained soil. In early summer it produces bell-shaped flowers, which can be prolonged by regular deadheading. Plants can be propagated by sowing seed in autumn or spring, or by dividing plants in spring.
‘Stairway to Heaven’ forms a low mound of cream-edged green leaves, which are flushed with pink in cool spring weather. In mid-to late spring, clusters of light blue-white flowers hang on upright stems. It’s ideal for using as ground cover at the front of shady borders and edging paths.
For best results, grow Polemonium reptans ‘Stairway to Heaven’ in moist but well-drained soil, in partial shade. Cut back after flowering to encourage a second flush of blooms. In autumn cut back again to ground level.
How to grow Polemonium 'Stairway to Heaven'
-
Plant size
40cm height
45cm spread
-
Aspect
North facing, east facing
-
Position in border
Middle
- Sun exposure: Dappled shade, partial shade, full shade
- Hardiness: Hardy
- Soil type: Well drained / light / sandy / clay / heavy / moist
Plant calendar
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plant | ||||||||||||
| Plant |
J
Do not Plant in January |
F
Do not Plant in February |
M
Do not Plant in March |
A
Do not Plant in April |
M
Do Plant in May |
J
Do Plant in June |
J
Do Plant in July |
A
Do Plant in August |
S
Do Plant in September |
O
Do not Plant in October |
N
Do not Plant in November |
D
Do not Plant in December |
| Flowers | ||||||||||||
| Flowers |
J
Plant does not flower in January |
F
Plant does not flower in February |
M
Plant does not flower in March |
A
Plant does flower in April |
M
Plant does flower in May |
J
Plant does not flower in June |
J
Plant does not flower in July |
A
Plant does not flower in August |
S
Plant does not flower in September |
O
Plant does not flower in October |
N
Plant does not flower in November |
D
Plant does not flower in December |
| Divide | ||||||||||||
| Divide |
J
Do not Divide in January |
F
Do not Divide in February |
M
Do Divide in March |
A
Do Divide in April |
M
Do not Divide in May |
J
Do not Divide in June |
J
Do not Divide in July |
A
Do not Divide in August |
S
Do Divide in September |
O
Do Divide in October |
N
Do Divide in November |
D
Do not Divide in December |
| Prune | ||||||||||||
| Prune |
J
Do not Prune in January |
F
Do not Prune in February |
M
Do not Prune in March |
A
Do not Prune in April |
M
Do not Prune in May |
J
Do Prune in June |
J
Do Prune in July |
A
Do not Prune in August |
S
Do Prune in September |
O
Do Prune in October |
N
Do Prune in November |
D
Do not Prune in December |
Polemonium 'Stairway to Heaven' and wildlife
Polemonium 'Stairway To Heaven' has no particular known value to wildlife in the UK.
Is Polemonium 'Stairway to Heaven' poisonous?
Polemonium 'Stairway To Heaven' has no toxic effects reported.
No reported toxicity to Birds
No reported toxicity to Cats
No reported toxicity to Dogs
No reported toxicity to Horses
No reported toxicity to Livestock
No reported toxicity to People
