Struggling up the ladder

I was feeling morose a while back. My beautiful Jacob's ladder (the Bressingham Purple) looked deader than a doornail. Polemoniums normally come through the winter with most of their foliage intact, but all I could see were dead stubs. I was, quite frankly, miffed. I'd grown rather attached to this particular form of Jacob's ladder, with its purplish cast and long-lasting flowers. It looked particularly nice with a frothing of deadnettle at its feet.

And then the other day I was doing my normal poking around and what did I see? This.


None of the reading I've done on this cultivar mentioned that it was a late riser or that it behaved differently than other Polemoniums. So as a public service I'm letting you know you shouldn't give up too quickly on this baby. It remains to be seen if it will come back as strong as last year. If it doesn't, I'll conclude that it's only borderline hardy in this zone, and make sure I mulch it well next winter.

For now, I am happy to see that it is coming back at all. There are a few residents of my garden that are missing in action or a bit worse for wear. But I'll tell the sob stories later. For the time being I am looking at my bleeding heart with a real sense of awe. A square metre they said it needed. Piffle! This thing is more than a metre across in its third year and the poor grape-leaved anemone behind it is feeling a bit crowded. Not for nothing that all its new shoots have sprouted further away from its rather overbearing neighbour. But I love it all the same.



Technorati tag: Jacob's ladder

Jacob's Ladder update - in full bloom now

It's not planted in the brightest spot, so it's leaning toward the light a bit. In this photo, you can see the colour of the stems much better. I find that spotted deadnettle is most effective near plants with blue, grey or purple tones. When this newly planted deadnettle has grown around Jacob more fully, the combination should be stunning.

Jacob's Ladder

This little beauty opened its first bloom a few days ago. I don't know if this is the normal bloom time for this variety, the hybrid Polemonium 'Bressingham Purple', as it's a new purchase and was already in bud when I bought it. It's probably not too far off, as my FIL's Polemonium reptans is also starting to flower.

In my previous garden I had a flourishing plant of P. caeruleum which I had started from seed (not hard to do) which really delighted me with its beautiful flower colour, long bloom time and decorative leaves. So it was hard to resist this cultivar when I spotted it on the perennial shelves.

I have it planted in dappled shade where it will get midday sun. Jacob's ladders in general prefer part to full sun, although in warmer climates somewhat shadier is better. It's also important that it be in a damp, woodland type soil. This is not one to plant with your cacti.

The colour of the stems doesn't show up very well in this slightly older photo; they are actually dark to the point of being almost burgundy. I am also impressed with the number of flowering stems on what is probably just a second-year plant.

What have your experiences with Jacob's ladder been?