Polemonium caeruleum Jacob's-ladder RRR DD N
This is a specialty of the Derbyshire white peak although it isn't always easy to find. It seems to prefer to grow on mossy screes hiding on shaded slopes which aren't always easy to find or get at. I knew of a large colony down a gorge and fought my way to photograph the flower but on the way back also found some (planted?) growing by the main path. In the summer sunshine the flowers were visited by a humming bird hawk moth with its long tongue dipping quickly from flower to flower tasting every one in seconds. As well as Chee dale it grows in large numbers in other Derbyshire valleys like Lathkill Dale.
P. caeruleum is found in central and northern England more than the southern parts and dotted around in Wales in Scotland. There is little in Ireland. It is now rated as very rare (RRR) in New Flora of the British Isles by Clive Stace
|
| Polemonium caeruleum Jacob's-ladder |
Chee Dale, Derbyshire 15th June 2006
Added on 15th June 2006, updated 17th July 2011