Polemonium reptans 'Stairway to Heaven' (Jacob's Ladder)

'Stairway to Heaven' Jacob's Ladder is one of those perennials that earns its keep in multiple seasons. The pinnate foliage is arranged in neat ladder-like pairs along each stem, and in this variety each leaflet is edged in white, giving the whole plant a bright, variegated look that reads well even from a distance. In spring the plant is covered in small lavender-blue flowers held above the foliage, and through summer and fall the leaves remain attractive and fresh, especially in the moderate temperatures of coastal Oregon.

This is a shade-tolerant perennial that thrives under deciduous trees, along the north side of structures, or in the dappled light of a mixed border. It prefers consistently moist, humus-rich soil but tolerates some drought once established. The foliage can scorch in intense afternoon sun, so afternoon shade is a plus in warmer inland locations.

'Stairway to Heaven' spreads slowly by rhizome to form tidy clumps and rarely causes any trouble in the garden. Division every three or four years keeps it vigorous. It is a genuinely easy plant that layers well with hostas, astilbes, and ferns in shaded borders.