Heaven Scent Jacob's Ladder

Light Needs

Partial Sun to Full Sun

(At Least 5 Hours of Direct Sunlight)

Mature Height

1.5-2 Feet

Mature Spread

15-18 Inches

Growing Zones

3 to 7

With light blue to purple blooms, darker throats and a bright pop of yellow orange stamen, the dozens of blossoms that hang above the dark green/purple foliage will lightly scent the air and brighten a full sun to part shade, corner area of your garden. Named Jacob’s Ladder because of the foliage, where the leaves are spaced evenly on both sides of the stem, the delicate blue flowers will steal the show. Much easier to grow than the native wildflower, Heaven Scent will be a favorite in your garden this season.

Native to temperate Europe and Asia, where it grows as a woodland wildflower, Polemonium tends to be a fussy perennial, not liking too much sun or too little sun, and prefers a consistently moist neutral soil. Heaven Scent Jacob’s Ladder has been bred to make care easier for you. Northern gardeners with cool summers will want to plant it in full sun in well draining soil kept moist. Mid South gardeners will want to plant in light shade or in locations with some afternoon shade for best results. Hardy to Zones 3 to 7, the hot humid summers of southern zones will be too much for this perennia, drying it out and burning the leaves.

Heaven Scent Jacob's Ladder Care

Plant out after the danger of the last frost has passed. Locate this perennial carefully, again, in full sun in cooler summer regions and with light shade in warmer summer regions. Plant in well draining humus rich garden soil with an average pH range of 5.5 to 6.2. Water regularly and don’t let it dry out, especially in warmer summer zones. Consider mulching to preserve soil moisture. This gal is going to want to keep consistently moist soil around her at all times. Fertilize in the spring when the plant starts to grow, using a controlled release fertilizer, then fertilize again when the flowers cease blooming in late summer.

Deadheading is generally not needed but removing the stem down to the basal foliage after blooms have ceased may trigger a rebloom. Prune again in early spring before new growth emerges to remove any damaged or diseased basal foliage. Deer rarely browse on these plants, making them easy to locate near a woodland edge. Bees, butterflies and hummingbirds, on the other hand, will find these lovely blue perennials hard to resist. This hybrid Polemonium will reseed itself. Divide clumps every 2 to 3 years to avoid the center of clump dying out.

Heaven Scent Jacob's Ladder Spacing

Space your plants carefully, about 15 to 18 inches apart. Growing to about 24 inches and reaching 18 inches wide, you will want the room between them to encourage good air circulation which will help to prevent powdery mildew, a frequent plant disease that attacks them. Remove affected leaves immediately and apply a control as needed. Water in the morning to allow foliage to dry in the afternoon sun to help control leaf spot. Consider mass planting Heaven Scent for a spectacular display, giving you fragrance and a great place to cut some sprigs to bring all that loveliness inside your home.