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Dodecatheon meadia |
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| Common name |
shooting star |
| Family |
primulaceae |
| Life cycle |
perennial |
| Flowers |
pink,white (May) |
| Size |
18" |
| Light |
part-full shade |
| Cultural notes |
ordinary garden soil |
From seed  |
Difficult to grow from seed (see details below)
detailed seed-starting info below
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| Wow! I gave up on trying to grow dodecatheons when all of my seedlings seemed to just give up after a few months of coddling, and a mail-ordered plant suffered a similar fate in my shade garden. Still, I had this patch of non-descript foliage in a part of the shade garden where no sunrays ever reach, where I vaguely remembered putting a few weary-looking seedlings. Even though it looked like a weed, I kept hoping - for four years. And finally, this year, BANG! The shooting stars shot! Better yet, there are two plants, one with white flowers, the other pink. The best surprise in our garden so far this year.
A week later, the display was even better.
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We left this plant behind in our Pennsylvania garden (and wish it well); we don't grow it in Houston. About my plant portraits
PlantLinks to other web pages about Dodecatheon meadia
Visitors to this page have left the following comments| gg | Jun 22, 2009 | The shooting star I have prefers a sunny place in the garden. Before I put it in the sun I was never successful. Since they go dormant after they flower it is a good idea to mark their place so you don't damage them inadvertently. |
| Calin in Oradea, Romania | Apr 08, 2010 | Exactly the same thing happened to me with the seedlings. i had all seeds on surface all winter on my balcony. when some small ones (only the first two leaves) were taken out and potted in small individual containers.
nothing happened. and even now, after weeks if not months, some still have only those first two leaves or... died.
i read somewhere not to worry, this happens and it still grows underneath the surface.
now i am not sure what to do with the ones still green and with the "empty" containers.
anyway... very cool flowers you've got!
Calin |
| elsehuru@mimer.no | Jun 28, 2010 | hello,
this is from north in norway, finnmark.
I my alpine garden, very small plants of dodecatheon with pink bulbs, noth opened yet, they have been selfseeding, and I am very surprised and glad. Which color I do not lnow yet because I have in my alpine garden this small white and in another part the larger pink dodecatheon medeia.
Today is 6 celsius and wind.
Else
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| April | Oct 22, 2010 | I own a small nursery in SW Wa specialing in primulaceae. I have been growing dodecatheon from seed since 1995 and I have been getting some outstanding forms. I have several now with fringed petals and got 2 dwarfer types last year with completely black stems and a most unusual color form. Dodecatheon seedlings often suddenly go dormant and generally come back the following year with no problem. I just wouldn't let them get really dry. How much dry or moister needed depends on the species. I generally recommend lots of morning sun with at least a few hours of afternoon shade for the hottest hours. If you haven't smell them--most or fragran--their scent is like grape pop, jello. candy. |
| Nia | Jul 06, 2014 | My new plant had a bloom on it, and now it looks dormant... as in everything is brown and dried. Hope I did not overwater it. Is this what dormant implies for this plant?
Indeed, dormant means that the plant has retreated underground, leaving the top growth to wither and die. I hope it returns for you strong as ever next year. |
| Vandy | Feb 21, 2016 | I have seen these in our NC mountains, but not in the wild state.
Is there any reason I should hope for/despair of growing them here in the Piedmont? I have acidic, dry shade with very good drainage, e.g. I have very good success with daphne.
I wish I could give you good advice, but my own experience with the whole dodecatheon clan is high on failures – I've raised small seedlings quite a few times, but they hardly ever survive their first summer, even when given conditions that seem compatible with their needs. The few that did survive were extremely reluctant to bloom. |
- Seed from JLH '00 order. Baggy 35F (7w)-70F (low G). None survived growing on and setting out.
- Same seed as above. Baggy 35F (9w)-70F (modest G, starting 8d). Seedlings didn't grow well, shrivelled up. Set out anyway.
- Seed from '04 garden. Baggy 35F (8w) - 70F (86%G, 3-12d)
- Seed from '05 garden. Pot outside on 12 Nov. Germination started mid-April, total 50+%G by early May
- 5/3: noted seedlings in pot started 12/31/13
- Seed from HPS/MAG '14/'15 exchange. Baggy 35F (9w) - 70F (50%G, 5-8d)
Seems like these go dormant shortly after first germinating, before they reach any decent size. Maybe best to leave in sheltered pot until year 2.
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