Jacob's ladder gets its common name from its small leaflets which are arranged in a ladder-like manner along the long, graceful leaves. It does not tolerate the hot, humid conditions of the lower Piedmont and coastal plains, and does appreciate a location with part shade. This self-seeding herbaceous perennial, will also spread by rhizomes. Its native habitat includes moist, deciduous woods and stream banks. It has a low drought tolerance and will go dormant in drought conditions. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Loam (Silt)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage
Available space
12 inches-3 feet
NC region
Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in. | Width: 1 ft. 6 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Creeping
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Ovate
Leaf feel
Smooth
Leaf size
1-3 inches long
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
The 7 to 17 oblong leaflets grow similar to the rungs on a ladder. Each leaflet is 1.5" long. The upper leaves typically have 3-5 leaflets. The underside is lighter in color with some fine hair.
Flower color
Blue; White
Flower value
Showy
Flower shape
Bell
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Flowers grow in loose terminal clusters. The calyx is light green.
Bloom time
Spring; Summer
Stem color
Green
Stem detail
Light green with a red tint, sprawling, slender, weak stems.