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Polemonium reptans

Spreading Jacob's Ladder · Creeping Jacob's Ladder · Greek Valerian · Abscess Root

Family PolemoniaceaeGenus Polemonium

A loose head of pale blue flowers with yellow-green centers and white-tipped stamens, above green stems.
FlowerRyan KaldariPublic domain

About the plant

What it is and where it grows — not part of any germination protocol.

The plant

Habit
Herbaceous Perennial, WildflowerExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Habit
perennialPlants of the World Online
Height
1-3 ft30-90 cmExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Spread
1.5-3 ft45-90 cmExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Flower
Blue, WhiteExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Blooms
Spring, SummerExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Hardiness zones
3-8Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Growing conditions

Sun
Full sun; Partial ShadeExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil
Loam (Silt)Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Moisture
Good DrainageExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.

Sources: Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — NC State Extension; Plants of the World Online — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Worth knowing

  • Spreading Jacob's ladder offers both pollen and nectar, and draws long- and short-tongued bees, hoverflies, fire beetles, butterflies and moths. Large bees are its most effective cross-pollinators, because they most often touch the pollen-covered anthers. Wikipedia: Polemonium reptans

This source reports two treatments. Both are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around July 16, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on July 15, 2026.

  1. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  2. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  3. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  4. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  5. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

    2/18 germinated in this phase.

  6. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

Steps after step 3 run on after germination.

about 6 months from start to step 3. Germination happens during step 3, in 84 days.

44% germination in 63–84 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Polemonium p. 195Public domain
Show the original text
Polemonium (Polemoniaceae). The following germ: in 2-5 w at 70: P. reptans germ. 70-40-70(5/13 in 2-28 d)-40(2/13) and 40-70-40(8/18 in 9-12 w)-70-40(2/18)-70 using fresh seed. Seed DS 6 m at 70 gave less than 2% germination. Light and GA-3 need to be tried.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Polemonium p. 195. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 2

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around September 10, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on September 9, 2026.

  1. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  3. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  4. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

    2/13 germinated in this phase.

Steps after step 3 run on after germination.

about 6 months from start to step 3. Germination happens during step 3, in 28 days.

38% germination in 2–28 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Polemonium p. 195Public domain
Show the original text
Polemonium (Polemoniaceae). The following germ: in 2-5 w at 70: P. reptans germ. 70-40-70(5/13 in 2-28 d)-40(2/13) and 40-70-40(8/18 in 9-12 w)-70-40(2/18)-70 using fresh seed. Seed DS 6 m at 70 gave less than 2% germination. Light and GA-3 need to be tried.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Polemonium p. 195. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

How each step is done, in Deno’s words, and what Verified and Derived mean.

Germination trials

Readers’ own records of sowing this species, published after review. Share your trial · All trials

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