Dodecatheon meadia
Shooting Star
DESCRIPTION
Shooting StarDodecatheon meadia
- Plant listed for information only. Not currently being sold at Garden Centers
Clusters of white to lavender flowers with recurved petals that resemble shooting stars nod on leafless stems starting in late April and continuing into May. Its lightly fragrant bloom accents the large basal leaves that can be tinged red. A variety of bees collect pollen as the flowers offer no nectar. Easy to grow, carefree and tolerates moist soils.
BENEFITS
Early blooms carpet the ground in springInvaluable for naturalizing and deer resistant
Beautiful in masses as an understory planting
Excellent fragrant cut flowers
Thick basal foliage provides great critter cover
NATIVE INFO
Native Range
Shady, open woodlands from New York south to Florida, west to the Mississippi valley.
Map Credit: The Biota of North America
Map Key: Green (native), Teal (native, adventive), Blue (present), Yellow (present & rare), Red (extinct)
Interesting Facts
Dodecatheon meadia is an ephemeral, a plant that disappears at the height of summer's heat. Its unique shooting star flower used to be found in massive drifts in the native woodland but it is becoming rare due to habitat disruption.
GROWING TIPS
Best in average, medium moisture, well-drained soil in part shade to full shade. Avoid poorly-drained, wet soils, especially in winter.