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Herbaceous Perennial

Polemonium foliosissimum 'Scottish Garden'

Jacob's ladder 'Scottish Garden'

A perennial to 80cm tall, with pinnate leaves divided into many narrowly lance-shaped leaflets, and compact sprays of open bell-shaped light violet-blueflowers throughout the summer

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Ultimate height

0.5–1 metres

Time to ultimate height

2–5 years

Ultimate spread

0.1–0.5 metres

Chalk

Clay

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Moist but well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun
Partial shade

Aspect

West–facing or South–facing or East–facing

Exposure

Exposed or Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Polemoniaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Bushy
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: Accepted

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
Wildlife gardens
Wildflower meadow
Cottage and informal garden
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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