Jacob's Ladder, Polemonium reptans, Native Minnesota Wildflower plant, Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden, Greek Valerian

(Greek Valerian). The Polemonium genus covers several plants commonly known as "Jacob's Ladder". Polemonium van-bruntiae refers to the actual "Jacob's Latter" whereas Polemonium reptans, while still referred to as "Jacob's Ladder" is more correctly named "Greek Valerian". P. reptans does not have stamens protruding from the flower and the stems are weak and usually reclining after initial growth. Just the opposite for P. van-bruntiae. The flowers are bell shaped, with lobes about as long as the flower tubes, appearing in loosely branched clusters. The leaves are pinnately divided with oblong leaflets. The stems may root if they lay on the ground, which the species name, reptans, refers to.

	Plants of the Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden
	Common Name	Scientific Name	Plant Family	Garden Location	Prime Season
	Jacob's Ladder	Polemonium reptans L.	Phlox	Woodland	Spring to Early Summer
Other names and notes	(Greek Valerian). The Polemonium genus covers several plants commonly known as "Jacob's Ladder". Polemonium van-bruntiae refers to the actual "Jacob's Latter" whereas Polemonium reptans, while still referred to as "Jacob's Ladder" is more correctly named "Greek Valerian". P. reptans does not have stamens protruding from the flower and the stems are weak and usually reclining after initial growth. Just the opposite for P. van-bruntiae. The flowers are bell shaped, with lobes about as long as the flower tubes, appearing in loosely branched clusters. The leaves are pinnately divided with oblong leaflets. The stems may root if they lay on the ground, which the species name, reptans, refers to.