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Shooting Star

Herbaceous Perennial Flower, Wildflower

Also known as Cowslips
Dodecatheon meadia
Primulaceae Family

This native owes its common name to its pendulous, star-like white or rosy pink flowers. It's most at home in wildflower, woodland and rock gardens or naturalized areas.

	Site and Plant Characteristics
	Growing Information

Site Characteristics

Sunlight:

part shade
full shade

Soil conditions:

requires well-drained soil
tolerates damp soil

Prefers moist, woodland soil. Tolerate summer dry spells. Needs well-drained soil especially over winter.

Hardiness zones:

4 to 8

Special locations:

rock gardens

Plant Traits

Lifecycle: perennial

Ease-of-care: moderately difficult

Height: 1 to 2 feet

Spread: 0.75 to 1 feet

Bloom time:

late spring
early summer

Flower color:

violet
white
pink

Petals are curved backwards, giving the blooms the appearance of "shooting stars."

Foliage color: dark green

Foliage texture: medium

Shape: cushion, mound or clump

Leaves form a basal rosette.

Shape in flower: flower stalks with flowers hanging downward

Flower stem is erect, topped with a head of pendulous flowers.

Special Considerations

Special characteristics:

non-aggressive
non-invasive
native to North America - Native to Pacific Northwest.

Growing Information

How to plant:

Propagate by seed, division or separation - Wait until clumps are large before dividing. Divide in spring.
Sow seeds outdoors where desired or in containers in a cold frame in fall. Seeds need exposure to cold to germinate.

Maintenance and care:

The plants die back entirely by midsummer, making gaps in the garden bed. Keep moist but not soggy until dieback. Mulch heavily.
More growing information: How to Grow Perennials