POLEMONIUM. Jacob's ladder. North and Central America, Europe, Asia. Showy perennials, many of them unfortunately plants of higher mountains and more northern latitudes, and not well adapted to our mild, wet winters. The following, however, are of relatively easy culture. They form dense basal clumps from underground rootstocks. The seasonal shoots are lush and leafy, the individual leaves divided feather-like into many narrow leaflets. Dense clusters of blue to purple, 5-petalled blossoms are carried at the shoot tips in summer. Sun or part shade near the coast, part shade inland, well drained, non-alkaline soil, constant moisture during growth and bloom. Hardiness varies.

carneum. I was surprised to learn that this was a local native, having never seen it in the wild. It is a vigorous, tightly clumping plant, growing 1-2' tall, with beautiful dark, shiny leaves. In our climate it blooms most of the summer, repeating if the spent flower clusters are sheared. The blossoms of this form are deep blue-violet with contrasting orange anthers. 10^oF or less.

caeruleum. A more robust species, the plants growing as much as 3' tall. It is much like the last in foliage. The lavender blue blossoms appear mostly in early summer. 0^oF or less.