Seasonal Wild Flowers

Jacob's-ladder

Polemonium caeruleum

Polemoniaceae

June to August

Native plants are found on northern hills.

Naturalised garden escapes are scattered throughout the

country but are most common in the Northwest and West.

See the BSBI distribution map for Jacob's-ladder

It is native on limestone uplands.

The garden escapes are naturalised in hedgerows and on

river banks, usually close to habitation..

Jacob's-ladder is a rhizomatous, clump-forming perennial

herb, growing up to 90cm.

The flowers are in loose clusters and often drooping.

Flowers are up to 2cm with 5 blue petals with white

patches at their base.

There are 5 dangly stamens with prominent anthers

which appear before the style.

The style is long with a 3-lobed stigma.

Nectaries at the base of the ovary attract insects,

especially bees.

Seeds are in capsules, which are located in the base

of the calyx tube.

Leaves are up to 40cm long and consist of rows of

opposite leaflets.

Jacob's-ladder in a hedge - Ipswich

Protandrous flower (stamens first)

Flower showing style and 3-lobed stigmas

Sepals and immature capsules

Leaves