Seasonal Wild Flowers

Jacob's-ladder

Polemonium caeruleum

Polemoniaceae

June to August

Native plants are found onon 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