| IDENTIFICATION |
| Common Name: |
LEAFY JACOB'S LADDER |
| Other Common Names: |
leafy polemonium |
| Scientific Name: |
Polemonium foliosissimum |
| Derivation: |
foliosissimum - leafy. |
| Family: |
Phlox - Polemoniaceae |
| Family Characteristics: |
showy, radially symmetrical flowers (can be divided in half any way to produce mirror images) often tubular with 5 flaring lobes; styles (connects stigma to the ovary) 1 with 3 stigmas (pollen-receiving part of the female organ). |
| Species Characteristics: |
corolla (whorl of petals) campanulate (bell-shaped); leaves mostly cauline (on stem); leaflets pubescent (hairy). |
| Mature Height: |
1 to 4 feet. |
| Mature Spread: |
3 feet. |
| Flower Color: |
blue |
| Petal Number: |
5 |
| Flower Symmetry: |
radial |
| Fruit Type: |
capsule (dry, multi-chambered fruit splitting at maturity). |
| Leaf Type: |
compound (divided into 2 or more similar parts), pinnate (divided once into leaflets along a main axis - like a feather). |
| Leaf/Leaflet Shape: |
lanceolate (lance-shaped) to narrowly oblong. |
| ECOLOGY |
| Frequency: |
uncommon |
| Growth Form: |
herbaceous |
| Life Cycle: |
perennial |
| Class: |
angiosperm (plant with covered seed). |
| SubClass: |
dicot (plants with two seed leaves and netted leaf veins). |
| Season of Bloom: |
summer (Jun. - Aug.). |
| Life Zone: |
foothills/montane. |
| Habitat: |
streamsides and meadows. |
| Eco. Relationships: |
pollinated by flies and butterflies. |
| WEED MANAGEMENT |
| Origin: |
native |
| LANDSCAPING |
| Landscaping Use: |
shaded sites, understory gardens, back of border, naturalizing on slopes and near water features.. |
| Moisture Requirement: |
drought tolerant. |
| Light Requirement: |
partial sun. |
| Soil Requirement: |
various, moist in spring, dry in summer, well-drained. |
Version: 2.4.1 Release Date: June 2010 ©2010 Jefferson County ITS
