Herb Garden Plants

Polemonium caeruleum (Polemoniaceae)

Appearance
Nowadays Jacobs Ladder, although demoted from its high position in the medical herb garden plants hall of fame, is still popular as a decorative perennial plant. The cultivated version is around 30cm tall sporting regularly spaced leaves and flowers of a striking blue which reveal themselves in a series of blossoms for a month around midsummer. Left to its own devices, it will grow up to 60cm (2′) tall.

History
Named after Polemon of Cappadocia for a medicinal herb associated with him, the true species is common to the northern hemispere, growing best, if thinly, in the temperate regions. The so-called false jacobs ladder – Greek Valerian – is widespread in America where it roots in damp soil.

Usage
Modern medicine has largely over-shadowed the virtues for which Jacobs Ladder was previously cultivated. These once-popular herb garden plants were cultivated as recently as the 19th century for use as an astringent, an anti-syphilitic measure, as an antidote to snakebite and in the treatment of rabies. Currently popular as an addition to a cat basket as a sort of potpourri or just by rubbing over the bedding. The plant is beloved by felines, who will roll on the young herb garden plants and damage any that are not protected in some fashion.

Cultivation
Choosing a sunny spot with a damp soil – possibly laced with clay pellets – will reward you with healthy happy and attractive plants. For this is the new virtue of jacobs ladder; simply its beauty. Divide the ground creeping roots and replant as necessary. The established plants will seed themselves and reward gardeners with an ever increasing population.

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