Hi Kim,

I've not been able to sprout the few seeds I get, and my plants have a habit of croaking! The plant is problematic here. I think they're beautiful but require a lot of TLC and yearly division to keep them coming on. I have the variety called "Stairway to Heaven" which has darling baby-blue flowers, I just wish I could get it to have more vigor.

T

Same experience as Trudi. I divided mine again this year and moved them to another area to see if I could get more 'UMPH' out of them. If they don't perform this coming year, they'll be toast.

Can't remember what the name was, but on the Perennial Forum I saw a discussion once about another variegated variety of JL that was much better than the initial one introduced...

Polemonium caeruleum 'Brize d'Anjou' is a variegated form of the European species, and I've been told that it has some difficulties handling the heat. You may get lucky with a true variegated seedling, but for me they have either lacked chlorophyll completely, or just been plain green. It's extremely easy from cuttings, though.

Polemonium 'Touch of Class' and 'Stairway to Heaven' are both forms of the American P. reptans, they are supposed to handle the heat better. Both species want moist soil and shade from hot sun.

"Brize d'A" did not do anything for me. "Stairway to heaven" looks like a winner, small nondemanding plant, great for show early spring. Haven't tried to ws it.

I have mine in part shade, well mulched, well draining soil and it's fed twice a year. I started with three and now have just one. Perhaps when spring comes around next year I'll have none. It won't be missed.

I bought 3 (my limit--3 strikes and you're out) over the past several years. One didn't even make it through the hot July. Not one returned. I even coddled and paid attention to watering--not my usual style.

To make matters worse, my last few years have been unusually dry, especially in spring. Last year not one of my regular old green Jacob's Ladder made an appearance. Fortunately, I still had seeds and have a few healthy plants to add to the garden.

Variegated demands rich, damp soil. If you don't have it, the plant will die.

When I first read the title of this thread I said to myself - this one is a croaker. Go on perennials for a more thorough discussion. That being said, I love my regular JL and my seeds from Ron germinated beautifully and the plants are healthy and lush.

Yes, my regular JL are doing well and they WS very easily. I have wanted the Stairway to Heaven for a couple of years now. I'm glad I stayed away from it after reading this thread.

Sounds like I might just have to be happy with green jacob's ladder. I may (speak blasphemy softly) have to buy a plant of the variegated kind just to give it a try, because I''m stubborn that way.. But based on this, I will make sure it is Stairway to heaven and not 'Brize d'Anjou'

Thanks everybody.

My stairway to heaven has done wonderful for me for 3 years now. I divided it last season into three more plants which also did well. I know have a number of lush full mature sized plants. I did have to keep watering them this past summer with the drought but they still seemed to flourish as long as i was on top of it. I have however never seen seeds on mine.
Shimla i think your in and around the same area as me so it may do well for you as well.

Bump based on interest in Lisa's lovely grouping.