woodland wildflower
Pretty Jacob's-ladder
Polemonium pulcherrimum
Also known as Jacob's-ladder, Skunk Leaf
1 of 2Native to the Pacific Coast, the Rockies, and the Southwest and southern Canada
Alaska to California Sierras and Wyoming Rockies
- Light Partial shade Sun tolerance
- Moisture Dry Moisture preference
- Zones 1–8 Cold to heat range
- Bloom May–Jul Flowering time
- Height up to 16 in to 41 cm
- Life cycle Perennial Annual to perennial
In the garden
A woodland wildflower for partial shade and lean, dry soil. Its blue and purple flowers peak in June. At up to 16 in, it tucks into shade gardens and woodland edges. Hardy in USDA zones 1–8.
Growing conditions
Light
Full sun Partial shade Full shade
Moisture
Dry Moist Wet
Hardiness zones
Find your zone:
When it blooms
The Pretty Jacob's-ladder's blue and purple flowers bloom May to July, peaking in June. This early-summer display draws bees and butterflies.
Pretty Jacob's-ladder blooms blue & purpleFoliage
Pollinators & wildlife
- Bees Two-form Bumble Bee
- Butterflies Arctic White
- Moths Hummingbird Clearwing
- Also visited by
- Flower flies: Pygmy Bee Fly
- Beetles: Grammoptera subargentata
Full plant details
Where it grows
- Habitat
- WoodlandThe wild plant community it grows in.
- Native range
- The Pacific Coast, the Rockies, and the Southwest and southern CanadaUnited States (10): AK, CA, CO, ID, MT, NV, OR, UT, WA, WY. Canada (1): BC. Where it grows wild on its own, by state and province.
- Native distribution
- Alaska to California Sierras and Wyoming RockiesThe same native range, usually more exact than the state list, and often noting where it has spread beyond it.
Growing conditions
- Light
- Partial shadeHow much sun it takes, from full sun to full shade.
- Moisture
- DryThe soil dampness it prefers, from dry to wet.
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 1–8 · Canadian 0–8The cold-to-heat climate range it survives.
- Soil
- Dry, rocky to richer, moist soils The soils it grows in naturally.
Growth & form
- Height
- up to 16 in (to 41 cm)Typical mature height.
- Life cycle
- PerennialWhether it lives a single season (annual), two (biennial), or returns for years (perennial).
Flowers, foliage & fruit
- Type
- WildflowerWhat kind of plant it is.
- Bloom
- May–JulWhen it flowers.
- Flower color
- Blue, PurpleThe bloom color, or colors.
- Fruit/Seeds
- ripens Jun–SepThe seed or fruit it sets after flowering.
- Toxicity
- None knownWhether any part is poisonous to people or pets.