Jacob's Ladder (Polemonium caeruleum) blooms a lovely clear blue in mid to late spring. It does well in moist, rich soil in part shade. Polemonium caeruleum dislikes hot summer weather, and the foliage often declines in mid to late summer. Bees are attracted to its blooms, particularly sweat bees. Syrphid flies, beneficial insects that feed on aphids, are also attracted to Polemonium caeruleum. The ancient Greeks used this plant as a medicinal herb.

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This Common Jacob's-Ladder is native to Europe and northern Asia. It is the most common of the genus sold at conventional nurseries. It makes an upright clump. Its odd pinnate oval leaves are 11 to 27 on a whole leaf. The cup-shaped flowers in loose panicle clusters usually are blue, but can also be white or pink. It does not do well in hot and/or dry locations, and the foliage can brown during drought.

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