Polemonium 'Violet Heart'
"Jacob's ladder"
Orders placed before 1 September 2026
You can expect your order in August/September
Orders placed 1 September - 15 October 2026
You can expect your order in September/October
Orders placed 16 October - 15 December 2026
You can expect your order within 10 business days
Free tracked delivery
on orders over £50
Tracked delivery £4.99
on orders under £50
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Delivery to Northern Ireland
Tracked delivery £6.99
on orders under £50
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Description
Polemonium 'Violet Heart' is a compact Jacob's ladder with a rather lovely sense of refinement, forming neat clumps of finely divided, fern-like foliage flushed with purple at the edges. From late spring into early summer, deep purple buds open into lightly scented, nodding white flowers, each marked with a vivid violet-purple eye. The contrast between dark sepals, pale petals and that little flash of colour gives Polemonium 'Violet Heart' an elegant, almost hand-painted quality. Reaching around 30–40cm, it is perfectly scaled for the front of a border, a cottage garden corner or a handsome patio container.
Easy-going yet quietly distinctive, Polemonium 'Violet Heart' enjoys fertile, moist but well-drained soil in partial shade, dappled light or sun, provided it is not left to dry out. Bees and other pollinators are quick to appreciate the airy sprays of flowers, while gardeners may find deadheading encourages a gentle second flush later in the season. Pair Polemonium 'Violet Heart' with aquilegias, hardy geraniums, ferns or darker-leaved perennials for a soft, romantic planting scheme with a little depth. Fully hardy and pleasingly low maintenance, Polemonium 'Violet Heart' is proof that small perennials can have very polished manners.
Key features
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Perfect for pots
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Comes back every year
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Fragrant
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Attractive to wildlife
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Loved by pollinators
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Thrives well in full sun
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In peat-free compost
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Low maintenance
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Drought tolerant
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Fully hardy
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Rodent resistant
Specs & details
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Botanical name
Polemonium 'Violet Heart'
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Flower colour
White, violet, purple
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Plant size
9cm root ball
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Established height
50cm-1m
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Established spread
20-30cm
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Plant spacing
9 plants per m2
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Leaf colour
Green
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Habit
Clump-forming
Upright -
Life cycle
Short-lived perennial
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Hardiness
Fully hardy
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Years to establish
1-2 years
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Sunlight
Full sun
Partial shade -
Position
Sheltered
Exposed -
Suitable for
Pots
Large containers
Borders
Gravel gardens
Wildlife gardens
Cottage gardens
Low maintenance gardens -
Soil acidity
Any
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Soil moisture
Free draining
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Soil type
Loam
Sandy
Stony
Multipurpose compost
Loam-based compost -
RHS Award (AGM)
Yes
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Growing skill
Easy to grow
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Scented
Yes
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Pollinator-friendly
Yes
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Mouse resistant
Yes
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Rabbit resistant
Yes
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Deer resistant
Yes
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Toxicity
No report
Plant calendar
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | June | July | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
- Planting
- Flowering
Useful information
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Soak the Polemonium 'Violet Heart' roots in water for 3-6 hours prior to planting
Plant your "Jacob's ladder" bare roots into temporary pots with a multipurpose compost within a week of delivery and grow-on in a sheltered spot outdoors
Choose a pot which comfortably fits the bare roots. Some have a noticeable crown which should be just below the soil surface with any top growth exposed. Some varieties are a length of root which should be planted lengthways and shallowly (1-2cm deep).
Plant out into borders or permanent containers in late spring or early summer once in full growth. Choose a position in sun or shade depending on the variety.
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Orders placed before 1 September 2026
You can expect your order in September 2026Orders placed 1 September - 15 October 2026
You can expect your order in October 2026Orders placed 16 October - 15 December 2026
You can expect your order within 10 business days
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