Polemonium carneum

Polemonium carneum, commonly known as Royal Jacob’s Ladder or Pink Jacob’s Ladder, is a charming native perennial valued for its fern-like foliage and soft spring flowers. This clump-forming woodland plant produces loose clusters of bell-shaped blooms in shades of pink, salmon, apricot, buff, and pale lavender, adding a delicate, natural look to shaded borders and native plant gardens. It is native to the western United States, especially the Pacific Northwest, and is well suited to moist meadows, open woods, streambanks, and garden settings with rich, well-drained soil.

Royal Jacob’s Ladder typically grows about 1–3 feet tall, with attractive pinnate leaves that give the plant its “ladder” appearance. It blooms from spring into early summer, often April through June depending on climate. For best performance, plant Polemonium carneum in partial shade to full sun where soil stays evenly moist. In hotter or drier climates, afternoon shade and regular water help keep the foliage fresh; drought may cause summer dormancy.

This perennial is a lovely choice for woodland gardens, native plantings, pollinator gardens, cottage borders, and containers. Its flowers attract bees and butterflies, while the plant is also noted for deer and rabbit resistance.

Explore more California Native Perennials.

We guarantee that the plants we sell are healthy and viable at the time they leave our care.

If a plant arrives in substandard condition, please take clear photographs and contact us within 48 hours of delivery. To ensure eligibility under this guarantee, we strongly encourage you to open and unpack your shipment immediately upon delivery and inspect the plants thoroughly.

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Standard live-plant shipping to eligible destinations is $16.99 for 1–6 plants, $22.99 for 7–12, $28.99 for 13–18, $34.99 for 19–24, and $40.99 for 25–30. For 31 or more plants, shipping is 20% of the order value. Expedited shipping is priced separately at checkout.

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Individual plants are shipped in 4" pots and we ship in boxes of 4, 6, 8, or 12 plants per box.

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Download the Plant Care Guide (PDF)