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Herbaceous Perennial

Polemonium caeruleum Brise d'Anjou ('Blanjou'PBR) (v)
  • RHS Plants for pollinators

Jacob's ladder [Brise d'Anjou]

A clump-forming perennial to 90cm tall, with ladder-like, pinnate mid-green leaves composed of leaflets edged creamy-yellow, fading to white in shade, and bearing sprays of blue flowers 2.5cm wide with prominent yellow stamens in early summer

Synonyms
Polemonium caeruleum 'Blanjou'PBR
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Size
Ultimate height
0.5–1 metres
Time to ultimate height
2–5 years
Ultimate spread
0.1–0.5 metres
Growing conditions
Chalk
Clay
Loam
Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained
pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Colour & scent
StemFlowerFoliageFruit
Spring Green Variegated Cream
Summer Blue Green Variegated Cream
Autumn Green Variegated Cream
Winter
Position
  • Full sun
  • Partial shade
Aspect

South–facing or East–facing or West–facing

Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness
H7
Botanical details
Family
Polemoniaceae
Native to the UK
No
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Clump forming
Genus

Polemonium can be annuals or herbaceous perennials or upright or spreading habit, with pinnate leaves and usually clustered, tubular, bell, or funnel-shaped flowers

Name status

Trade

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in any fertile, moist but well-drained soil preferably in full sun or partial shade

Propagation

Propagate by division in spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types
  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Coastal
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Patio and container plants
  • Wildlife gardens
  • Flower borders and beds
Pruning

Cut back to the base in autumn

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

May be susceptible to powdery mildews

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