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Polemonium boreale (Northern Jacob's ladder)
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1 hour care
per year
per year
0.3m
Max height
Max height
0.4m
Max spread
Max spread
2-5 years
To maturity
To maturity
Plant details
Botanical name
Polemonium boreale
Other names
Northern Jacob's ladder, Arctic Jacob's ladder, Boreale Jacob's ladder, Polemonium boreale 'Blue Whirl', Polemonium boreale 'Bambino Blue', Polemonium boreale 'Azuro', Polemonium boreale 'Blue Swirls', Polemonium boreale 'Blue Pearl', Polemonium pulcherrimum, Polemonium richardsonii, Polemonium pulcherrimum 'Tricolor', Polemonium viscosum 'Blue Whirl'
Genus
Polemonium Polemonium
Species
P. boreale - P. boreale is a compact, clump-forming, herbaceous perennial with pinnate leaves divided into numerous small, oval to oblong, dark green leaflets and, in summer, upright, branching stems bearing panicles of light violet-blue flowers with yellow eyes.
Polemonium boreale is: Deciduous
Habit
Clump-forming, Compact
Flower
Violet, Blue in Summer
Foliage
Green in Spring; Green in Summer; Green in Autumn
How to care
Watch out for
Powdery mildew Powdery mildew
General care
Pruning
Deadhead regularly. If becoming untidy, cut back by half in midsummer to rejuvenate. Cut to the base in autumn.
Propagation methods
Division, Seed
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Where to grow
Polemonium boreale (Northern Jacob's ladder) will reach a height of 0.3m and a spread of 0.4m after 2-5 years.
Suggested uses
Beds and borders, Cottage/Informal, Low Maintenance
Cultivation
Grow in gritty, moist but sharply-drained, preferably neutral to alkaline soil in sun or partial shade. Needs consistently moist soil in growth but avoid waterlogged conditions in winter. Needs afternoon shade in areas with warm summers. This species is often incorrectly sold as a number of different cultivar names.
Soil type
Chalky, Clay, Loamy, Sandy (will tolerate most soil types)
Soil drainage
Moist but well-drained
Soil pH
Alkaline, Neutral
Light
Partial Shade, Full Sun
Aspect
South, East, West
Exposure
Exposed, Sheltered
UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.
Hardy (H4)
Companion plants
We do not currently have companion plants added for this plant.
Botanical name
Polemonium boreale
Other names
Northern Jacob's ladder, Arctic Jacob's ladder, Boreale Jacob's ladder, Polemonium boreale 'Blue Whirl', Polemonium boreale 'Bambino Blue', Polemonium boreale 'Azuro', Polemonium boreale 'Blue Swirls', Polemonium boreale 'Blue Pearl', Polemonium pulcherrimum, Polemonium richardsonii, Polemonium pulcherrimum 'Tricolor', Polemonium viscosum 'Blue Whirl'
Genus
Polemonium Polemonium
Species
P. boreale - P. boreale is a compact, clump-forming, herbaceous perennial with pinnate leaves divided into numerous small, oval to oblong, dark green leaflets and, in summer, upright, branching stems bearing panicles of light violet-blue flowers with yellow eyes.
Native to
North America, Northern Asia, Northern Europe
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Clump-forming, Compact
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Colour
Flower
Violet, Blue in Summer
Foliage
Green in Spring; Green in Summer; Green in Autumn
How to care
Watch out for
Specific diseases
General care
Pruning
Deadhead regularly. If becoming untidy, cut back by half in midsummer to rejuvenate. Cut to the base in autumn.
Propagation methods
Division, Seed
Monthly care advice
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Where to grow
Polemonium boreale (Northern Jacob's ladder) will reach a height of 0.3m and a spread of 0.4m after 2-5 years.
Suggested uses
Beds and borders, Cottage/Informal, Low Maintenance
Cultivation
Grow in gritty, moist but sharply-drained, preferably neutral to alkaline soil in sun or partial shade. Needs consistently moist soil in growth but avoid waterlogged conditions in winter. Needs afternoon shade in areas with warm summers. This species is often incorrectly sold as a number of different cultivar names.
Soil type
Chalky, Clay, Loamy, Sandy (will tolerate most soil types)
Soil drainage
Moist but well-drained
Soil pH
Alkaline, Neutral
Light
Partial Shade, Full Sun
Aspect
South, East, West
Exposure
Exposed, Sheltered
UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.
Hardy (H4)
USDA zones
Zone 8, Zone 7, Zone 6, Zone 5, Zone 4
In order to add a note on this plant, please add this plant to your plant lists.
| This plant likes... | Garden match | |
| Soil types: | Chalky, Clay, Loamy, Sandy (will tolerate most soil types) | Tell us... |
| Soil drainage: | Moist but well-drained | Tell us... |
| Soil pH: | Alkaline, Neutral | Tell us... |
| Light: | Partial Shade, Full Sun | Tell us... |
| Aspect: | South, East, West | Tell us... |
| Exposure: | Exposed, Sheltered | Tell us... |
| Hardiness: | Hardy (H4) | Tell us... |
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