Featured 1 Gallon Perennial for late May
Polemonium Brise d'Anjou

Long a favorite in the garden, the traditional Jacob's Ladder has been reborn with a coat of colorful green and white fern-like foliage. Forming masses of finely divided decorative leaves the Brise d'Anjou brings color to the perennial border all year. The neat mounds are topped in summer with erect stems of cool, violet blue blossoms. Surely a winner in everyone's garden.

Brise d'Anjou prefers partial or full shade although it will grow well in the Willamette Valley in full sun, given enough moisture. A well drained soil, kept cool with mulches, will benefit the plant. Divisions can be taken when dividing after several years.

Relatively pest-free and requiring only minimal attention, the plants need to be cleaned once a year of old flowers, and then once of foliage in the winter.

While much of the information in this tip is applicable in several gardening zones/climates, some of the plants and timing suggested are best suited to the Northwest, generally in the mild/wet growing regions found along the I-5 corridor. You should make appropriate adjustments or consult local gardening experts in regions whose climates differ from this area of the Northwest.