This selection of Jacob’s Ladder is a terrific choice for edging in the border, or using in rock gardens or containers. It forms a low, bushy mound of ferny green leaves, bearing loads of violet-blue, starry flowers, each with a white eye. Blooms appear over a long season. Clip back by half in midsummer to rejuvenate, if necessary. Clumps may be easily divided in early fall or spring. Prefers an evenly moist soil and partial shade, particularly in warm summer regions. Extensive misnaming and renaming of Polemonium boreale has created much confusion. ‘Heavenly Blue’ was given its name by Jelitto Seeds in 1999 after being selected out of a test field of Polemonium boreale. It was selected and named due to its more compact and homogeneous growth habit. A partial list of other variety names incorrectly attributed to P. boreale include: ‘Bambino Blue', ‘Blue Whirl', ‘Azuro', ‘Blue Swirls', and ‘Blue Pearl'. Plants sold under any of these names are nothing more than the species Polemonium boreale, which can be short lived and seedy. If that is not confusing enough, Polemonium boreale, the species, has often been sold incorrectly labeled as other species, including P. pulcherrimum, P. confertum, P. caeruleum, P. reptans. In short, be careful to obtain your Polemonium from reputable sources!
The next time you are buying perennials please look for our helpful labels and blue pots, and remember "The best perennials come out of the blue"!
