Golden Feathers Jacob’s Ladder Brightens the Shade Garden
An exciting companion for your hostas!
'Golden Feathers' Jacob's ladder is an eye-catching variegated perennial plant for the shade garden. The yellow streaks and splashes on its ferny foliage last throughout summer. This North American native plant can be used to accent large-leaved shade plants, providing a contrasting fine texture. Its compact size makes it a good candidate for a container planting or the rock garden too, as long as it receives some shade.
Common name: 'Golden Feathers' Jacob's ladder
Botanical name: Polemonium pulcherrimum ‘Golden Feathers’
Exposure: Part shade to full shade
Flowers: Wands of small, purple-blue flowers that resemble forget-me-nots appear in late spring to early summer. Although this perennial is mostly grown and admired for its foliage, the flowers are an attractive bonus.
Foliage: Fern like and feathery, the foliage is the main draw on this variegated Jacob's ladder. The leaves are medium green with bold splashes of bright yellow. Color remains strong throughout the summer.
Habit: 'Golden Feather's is an herbaceous perennial growing 6 to 8 inches tall and 12 to 14 inches wide, with a mounding habit.
Origin: The species Polemonium pulcherrimum is native to dry, rocky slopes and moist shaded pockets from Arkansas to the Pacific Coast. 'Golden Feathers' is a cultivar introduced by Darwin Perennials in 2023.
How to grow it: Provide 'Golden Feathers' Jacob's ladder with at least half a day of shade and moderate water. It needs good soil drainage and it can survive some drought once established. USDA Zones 5b–9a.
Image courtesy of Darwin Perennials.
