Showy Jacob’s-ladder (Polemonium pulcherrimum sp.) is a perennial herb growing from a taproot and a branched stem.  Clustered leaves are mostly basal and hairy.    The leaves are pinnately compound (featherlike in leaflets).    If handle leaves we will not a “skunky” odor.     The common name arises from the ladder-like shape of the leaves, a Biblical reference.

Clusters of showy blue flowers with yellow centers develop at the terminal ends of stems.

The flowers are quite showy.

After flowering, capsules with seeds develop.   Jacob’s ladder appears in late spring in open areas, glades, meadows, and on ridges in south-facing open subalpine locations.

There are a number of subspecies that may be found in other areas and in isolated alpine areas.