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(Polemonium occidentale)
Western Polemonium (Polemonium occidentale)
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Nina House
CC BY 4.0
Image By:
Nina House
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Copyright:
CC BY 4.0
Copyright Notice:
Photo by: Nina House | License Type: CC BY 4.0 | License URL: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ | Rights Holder: Nina House | Publisher: iNaturalist | Date Created: 2020-07-22T12:04:09-07:00 |
Estimated Native Range
Summary
Polemonium occidentale, commonly known as Western Polemonium, is a deciduous perennial herb native to moist meadows, streambanks, and forest clearings, often in the vicinity of pine forests throughout the Western United States and Canada. It typically grows to a height of 1-3 feet (30-90 cm) with a similar spread. The plant produces an erect stem up to one meter tall, adorned with pinnately compound leaves, each divided into many small lance-shaped leaflets. From late spring to early summer, it bears an open, elongated array of several bell-shaped, five-lobed flowers, each up to 1.5 centimeters long. The flower corolla is blue to bright purple with a white throat, offering a striking contrast against the green foliage.
Western Polemonium is valued for its delicate foliage and attractive flowers, which can add a splash of color to shady garden areas. It is often used in woodland gardens, borders, and as part of native plant gardens. This species prefers consistently moist conditions and thrives in part shade to full shade, making it suitable for more challenging garden spots with less sunlight. While it requires high amounts of water, it is important to ensure good soil drainage to prevent root rot. It is not known for serious pest or disease problems, but slugs and snails can sometimes be an issue in very moist environments. Western Polemonium can be propagated by division or from seed, and it may self-seed under optimal conditions, though it is not typically aggressive or invasive.CC BY-SA 4.0
Western Polemonium is valued for its delicate foliage and attractive flowers, which can add a splash of color to shady garden areas. It is often used in woodland gardens, borders, and as part of native plant gardens. This species prefers consistently moist conditions and thrives in part shade to full shade, making it suitable for more challenging garden spots with less sunlight. While it requires high amounts of water, it is important to ensure good soil drainage to prevent root rot. It is not known for serious pest or disease problems, but slugs and snails can sometimes be an issue in very moist environments. Western Polemonium can be propagated by division or from seed, and it may self-seed under optimal conditions, though it is not typically aggressive or invasive.CC BY-SA 4.0
Plant Description
- Plant Type: Herb
- Height: 1-3 feet
- Width: 0.4-0.5 feet
- Growth Rate: Moderate
- Flower Color: Blue, Purple
- Flowering Season: Spring
- Leaf Retention: Deciduous
Growth Requirements
- Sun: Part Shade, Full Shade
- Water: High
- Drainage: Medium, Slow
Common Uses
Bee Garden, Bird Garden, Butterfly Garden, Deer Resistant, Hummingbird Garden, Low Maintenance, Water Garden
Natural Habitat
native to moist meadows, streambanks, and forest clearings, often in the vicinity of pine forests throughout the Western United States and Canada
Other Names
Common Names: Western Jacob’s-Ladder
Scientific Names: , Polemonium occidentale, Polemonium caeruleum var. foliosissimum, Polemonium caeruleum var. occidentale, Polemonium acutiflorum subsp. occidentale, Polemonium occidentale subsp. typicum,
GBIF Accepted Name: Polemonium occidentale Greene