Northwest Blooms · Perennials
Polemonium ‘Heaven Scent’
Jacob’s Ladder

- Family
- Polemoniaceae
- Height
- 18-24 inches
- Width
- 18-24 inches
- Flower color
- Lavender-blue
- Foliage color
- Bronze-purple in spring, maturing to green
- Bloom time
- Late spring to early summer
- Light
- Partial shade to full sun
- Water
- Moderate
- Maintenance
- Low
- Wildlife
- Bees, butterflies
About this plant
Polemonium 'Heaven Scent', commonly known as Jacob's Ladder, is a charming perennial celebrated for its fragrant lavender-blue, bell-shaped flowers and attractive foliage. Blooming in late spring to early summer, the flowers attract bees and butterflies, making it ideal for pollinator-friendly gardens. The foliage emerges in early spring as bronze-purple, maturing to lush green, with pinnately compound leaves resembling a ladder. Thriving in partial shade but tolerating full sun in cooler climates, 'Heaven Scent' is perfect for garden borders, woodland areas, and shaded spots. It pairs well with hostas, ferns, and astilbes, and can also be grown in containers, adding charm to patios and shaded areas.
Works well in
Borders · Cottage Gardens · Pollinator Gardens · Containers
Companion plants
Columbines · Lungworts · Daylilies · Japanese anemones · Bleeding hearts · Catmint
Design tip
Summer flowers carry the middle of the season, so place it where the bed needs color once spring bulbs fade. It takes sun or light shade, which makes it useful along the changing light of a bed edge or a partly shaded border.
