New Mexico State University
College of Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences | ACES
NMSU: Selected Plants of Navajo Rangelands

Selected Plants of Navajo Rangelands

Diné bikéyah Chi’l nooséłígíí Bąąhą́ą́nosin
Take care of our Navajo Rangelands

Jacob's ladder

(a.k.a. Jacobs ladder)
Azee’naachii’
Cluster of purple, bell-shaped flowers with small leaflets attached to the stem below the flower cluster
Russ Kleinman, Richard Felger, & Kelly Kindscher

Jacob's ladder is an upper elevation herb similar except for flower color to Polemonium flavum, yellow Jacob's ladder, which is found in upper elevation mixed conifer forests. It is upright and has a compound leaf, the lanceolate leaflets. The flowers are lavender.

Top of stem showing arrangement of flowers and leaves
Russ Kleinman, Richard Felger, & Kelly Kindscher
A dense stand of plants
Russ Kleinman, Richard Felger, & Kelly Kindscher
Close-up of flower showing five purple petals, pollen-covered stamens and a protruding style
Russ Kleinman, Richard Felger, & Kelly Kindscher
Stem with cluster of flowers
Russ Kleinman, Richard Felger, & Kelly Kindscher
Close-up of flower showing five purple petals, pollen-covered stamens and a protruding style
Russ Kleinman, Richard Felger, & Kelly Kindscher
Scientific Name
Polemonium foliosissimum
Plant Type
Forb
Growing Season
Warm Season
Habitats
  • Ponderosa Pine / Mixed Conifer
  • Grasslands
Flower Colors
  • Blue / Purple
  • Yellow

©2018 NMSU Board of Regents.
Individual photographers retain all rights to their images.
Partially funded by the Western Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program (westernsare.org; 435.797.2257), project EW15-023.
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