Polemonium

These plants will grow in sun, or part shade, in retentive soil. Their natural habitats are cooler, mountainous areas, so a north facing bed is ideal. Generally pest free, but an overly dry soil will spoil the foliage.The silky cup-shaped flowers are generally, blue to purple, pink and white, in good sized clusters, during later spring through summer. Their common name Jacob's ladder, comes from the compound leaves, with their many leaflets looking rather ladder-like. Part of the Polemoniaceae family, which includes Phlox, Cantua and Collomia. The vast majority of these come from the 'New World', ie the Americas.