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Jacob's ladder

Polemonium reptans

Jacob's ladder is a lovely flower that grows in shady places. Its pretty blue flowers bloom in spring and can make any garden look magical!

Habitat: Forests

Appearance

The Jacob's ladder has delicate, bell-shaped flowers that hang in clusters, usually in shades of blue or lavender. Its most distinctive feature is its pinnately compound leaves, arranged like rungs on a ladder.

KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderEricalesFamilyPolemoniaceaeGenusPolemonium
Jacob's ladder
bell_shaped_flower trait badgeflowering trait badgeshade_tolerant trait badgespring_blooming trait badge
Jacob's ladder

Category

Plants

Rarity

Common

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Snaps

9

Interesting facts

Did you know its biblical name refers to a dream about a ladder reaching heaven?

Its tiny flowers are like magnets for fuzzy bumblebees and graceful butterflies!

This plant is a great "early bird," often one of the first wildflowers to bloom in spring!

You can sometimes find it growing right next to bubbling streams in the woods!

Special abilities

Ability

Spreading Power

Jacob's ladder can spread via underground rhizomes, allowing it to form patches and quickly colonize new areas.

Ability

Nectar Beacon

Jacob's ladder produces sweet nectar to attract bees and butterflies, ensuring its flowers are pollinated.

Ability

Sunlight Catcher

Jacob's ladder has compound leaves with many leaflets, efficiently capturing sunlight in its shady woodland home.

Measurements & details

Height
30-90 cm
Spread
30-60 cm
Flower Size
1-2 cm
Bloom Season
Late spring to early summer
Edible
No
Toxicity
None
Lifecycle
Perennial
Pollination Method
Insect

Ecological connections

pollinates

Common Eastern Bumblebee

Bombus impatiens

visits flowers for nectar

pollinates

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

Papilio glaucus

feeds on flower nectar

pollinates

European Honey Bee

Apis mellifera

gathers nectar and pollen

Traits

Also known as

No aliases listed yet.

Collections

Safety

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Always look but don't touch flowers without asking an adult.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to identify Jacob's ladder?

The easiest way to identify Jacob's ladder is to use the Snappit nature identifier app.

How tall is Jacob's ladder?

30-90 cm

How wide does Jacob's ladder spread?

30-60 cm

How big are the flowers on Jacob's ladder?

1-2 cm

When does Jacob's ladder bloom?

Late spring to early summer

Is Jacob's ladder edible?

No

Is Jacob's ladder toxic?

None

What is Jacob's ladder's lifecycle?

Perennial

Snap Map

Zoom in to split clusters and explore where this object has been snapped.

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Where to spot

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