British Plants and Flowers – Jacob’s Ladder

Name – The botanical name is Polemonium caeruleum, and there are several theories on the origin of the name Polemonium – the first claims it is derived from the Greek word polemos which means ‘war’ but the second suggests that the plant was originally named after the herbalist and healer Polemon of Cappadocia. It’s also known as Greek valerian and Charity as well as Jacob’s Ladder. The name Jacob’s Ladder arises because if the arrangement of the leaves, the successive pairs of opposite leaves strongly resembling a ladder. And, any ladder-like arrangement tends to end up with Jacob’s being attached to it, as Jacob had the only ladder mentioned in the classical western reference books that most botanists used.

Description – This bright, blue-flowered (more rarely white, and seeds from white flowers often revert to blue!) border plant flowers in June to July and should be more widely grown in our gardens, given its popularity with cats and its happy disposition to take up a shady spot.

Origin - Sow seed in spring in a cold frame. Jacob’s ladder thrives in part shade situations and given too much sun will tend to die without warning, this is especially true of the newer variegated forms. The plant is generally propagated by division in early spring or seed. While not as insanely attractive to cats as catnip, this plant is a second favourite will tend to be slept in by cats, especially if you brush past it to bruise the leaves or cut it. The plant was often used medicinally in the treatment of headaches, fevers and epilepsy and also by herbalists as a cough remedy.

For Decoration – the dried flowers look wonderful in pot pourri.

British plant Jacob’s Ladder photograph by Plumbum, used under a creative commons attribution licence

 

bluebell, comfrey, flax, foxglove, hawthorn, heartsease, heather, herb robert, holly, hollyhock, honeysuckle, hop, hornbeam, jacobs ladder, larkspur, oak, periwinkle, rowan, silver birch, snowdrop, tansy, vipers bugloss, wild strawberry, willow, yarrow

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