In May the lavender flowers on this plant smell like grapes but during the summer take a closer look at the leaves and notice that they look like a little ladder. This plant is often called Jacob's Ladder like the stairway to heaven described in the Bible.

Heaven Scent Jacob's Ladder is a cross between the American native and the Japanese polemonium. Reddish fern-like leaves appear in the spring followed by the 2 foot tall flower stalks bearing the fragrant bluish-purple flowers. After the flowers have faded the leaves become green and take on the fine-leaved ladder-like form that is almost fern-like. This plant likes many of the same conditions as ferns including humus-rich continuously moist soils and shady sheltered positions. It is suited to shade and woodland gardens and shady borders.