Showy Polemonium, Showy Jacob's-ladder, Jacob's-ladder, Skunk-leaved Polemonium

Showy jacob's ladder is a pretty, loosely branched perennial wildflower arising to 50 cm high. Plants are typically somewhat glandular in the inflorescence. The leaves are largely basal, and typically tufted and larger than the ones on the stems. The leaf is compound pinnate, with 11 to 25 leaflets. (See photo at right.)

The inflorescence is a congested cyme, somewhat scorpion-tailed in shape. The tube is about 7 to 13 mm long and about as wide. The lobes or reflexed petals are about equal to double in size. The flowers are blue in color, often with a yellow "eye". This is an easy to grow wildflower for the woodland to open garden.

There are two varieties in Oregon and Washington.

Variety pulcherrimum is smaller and more compact in size, seldom being more than 20 cm tall. The leaflets are typically less than 1 cm long and 5 mm wide.

Variety calycinum is usually more than 30 cm tall, with fewer but larger leaflets (the larger ones usually more than 1 cm long and 55 mm wide.

Showy jacob's ladder is found in a variety of habitats from moderate to high elevation in the mountains. It may be found at exposed sites above timberline, or may be found in moist or shaded places within the forest.

Showy jacob's ladder is a widespread wildflower, ranging from Alaska south to California, and eastward to the Rocky Mts.

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Showy jacob's ladder (var. pulcherrimum) from along the North Loop Road near the head of Little Blitzen Gorge, Steens Mountain, southeastern Oregon........July 10, 2014.

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