One dog gone fine Polemonium! (Polemonium pulcherrimum)

[Kelaidis]

Not quite as congested as the sky pilots, this frilly leaved Polemonium pulcherrimum is widespread through the montane elevations of the Northern Rockies. I first collected seed near Dog Gone Lake (I kid you not) in Montana where it grew thickly under the pines and spruce. It thrives in the same sort of conditions that suit Auricula primulas and Heucheras--well drained high shade--and has lasted for years in my rock garden. I think it may be my favorite Polemonium, one well worth seeking out. Particularly this Dog Gone form...which blooms much of the spring and often through much of the summer.

By the way, the Latin name means "extremely beautiful" which I would agree with.

[Todd Boland]

We have mixed results with western Polemoniums...they may do fine then suddenly up and die in mid-summer...that is assuming they survive the winter.  Pulcherrimum is one of the more reliable but is still apt to be short-lived around here.  I have a couple but they are not even showing buds yet.

[Lori S.]

Yes, a very fine plant that does well here in the garden...
 

and is a pleasure to see in the wild too.

[RickR]

The flower stems look like they would be beaten down by rain. True?

And our native Polemonium reptans (Jacob's Ladder) opens only when it is sunny. How does P.pulcherrimum act in this regard?

The flowers themselves are prettier on pulcherrimum than on reptans, but I'm just not sold yet on the species "dog gone fineness". I briefly grew P. p. 'Blue Master' (bought under the name P.folissima [or similar]).  It seemed like a more sturdy and taller plant.

[Lori S.]

The flower stems look like they would be beaten down by rain. True?

I can't say I have noticed any permanent damage from a pounding rain.  Therefore, I'd guess the stems are rather springy?

And our native Polemonium reptans (Jacob's Ladder) opens only when it is sunny. How does P.pulcherrimum act in this regard?

Errr, not something I've noticed either...  

The flowers themselves are prettier on pulcherrimum than on reptans, but I'm just not sold yet on the species "dog gone fineness". I briefly grew P. p. 'Blue Master' (bought under the name P.folissima [or similar]).  It seemed like a more sturdy and taller plant.

The species gets to about 8" in my yard, slightly lax (a little wider than tall).

[Hoy]

Our most common native Jacob's ladder, P caeruleum, is one of the best perennials for montane climate. It is spreading at our mountain cabin. We also have a white version of it.




I have tried the American species P pauciflorum. It behaves well but is a short lived perennial here.




Maybe I should try P pulcherrimum as well!

[McDonough]

I came across these excellent photos of Polemonium pulcherrimum on Marijn can der Brink's photo galleries, taken at Crater Lake National Park, Oregon.
http://photos.v-d-brink.eu/Flora-and-Fauna/North-America/America-Oregon/13613092_BnJhx#1013918469_Qncyh
http://photos.v-d-brink.eu/Flora-and-Fauna/North-America/America-Oregon/13613092_BnJhx#1013918088_6yvBY
http://photos.v-d-brink.eu/Flora-and-Fauna/North-America/America-Oregon/13613092_BnJhx#1013953719_3sVZQ
http://photos.v-d-brink.eu/Flora-and-Fauna/North-America/America-Oregon/13613092_BnJhx#1013954907_jJboo