Species shooting star
purple-yellow flowers with purple-gray stigmas and purple buds with light-green sepals on maroon-green stems

shooting star

Dodecatheon meadia

Shooting star (Dodecatheon meadia) is a stunning sight to behold. With its clumps of grass-like leaves and beautiful clusters of star-like flowers, it's easy to see why it is a popular spring bloomer. The spectacular colors of pink, white, and purple blend perfectly and look almost like stars shooting across the meadow. The striking flowers are followed by an ornamental clutter of green seed pods. Not only is this plant visually appealing, it is also easy to grow and thrive in sunny or lightly shaded areas. It's a beautiful addition to any garden.

Cycle:

Herbaceous Perennial

Watering:

Average

Propagation:

Division,Cutting,Seed Propagation,Layering Propagation

Hardiness Zone:

4 - 8

Flowers:

White, pink, purple Flowers

Sun:

Part shade

Cones:

Yes

Leaf:

Yes

Leaf Color:

green

Growth Rate:

High

Maintenance:

Moderate

Salt Tolerant:

Yes

Care Level:

High

watering

Shooting star (Dodecatheon meadia) should be watered moderately, keeping the soil moist during active growth and spring flowering. During the summer, give them a deep weekly watering, allowing the soil to dry out slightly between deep watering. In the winter, give them a much less frequent watering, only when the soil is almost dry. Do not allow the soil to remain waterlogged for extended periods of time.

sunlight

Shooting star (Dodecatheon meadia) plants thrive in full sun. They should receive direct sunlight for 6-8 hours daily, ideally in the morning or early afternoon hours. During hotter summer months, shooting stars can benefit from some afternoon shade to avoid scorching or wilting in the hot sun. In the fall, sunrise or late afternoon sunlight is best for growing and promoting healthy flowering blooms.

pruning

Shooting stars (Dodecatheon meadia) benefit from pruning to encourage the growth of bushier plants with more flower stalks. Pruning also helps keep the size of the plant under control. Pruning should take place in late fall or early winter when the plant is dormant. Start by cutting back the stems from the previous years growth to about 1 third of their original height. This will help stimulation of new growth for the following spring. Remove any stems that are spindly or crossed over each other, as these will compete for light and water. Remove any dead or diseased branches and clip back any new growth to tidy the plant.

Season

Fall
Winter
Spring
Summer
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Starts Flowering

Dodecatheon meadia, also known as shooting stars, typically start flowering in April or May.

Hardiness Map