Shooting Star (Dodecatheon)
Perennial
- Rosy-pink blooms with bright yellow stamens welcome spring!
- Unique flower shape looks amazing in mass plantings.
- Low maintenance & easily acclimates to a wide range of soils.
- Native perennial adored by bumble bees.
- Zones 4-8, sun, 8-12” tall x 10-12” wide at maturity.
ZONE
EXPOSURE
HEIGHT
Description
Shooting star (Dodecatheon meadia ) is a woodland planting classic, adored for its unique blooms and vibrant colors. It prefers moist soil and sunlight and can withstand some drought once established. Pair with other unique spring bloomers like bleeding heart (Dicentra ) or masterwort (Astrantia ) to create an enchanting display.
Details
Common name: Shooting Star, Eastern Shooting Star
Zone: 4 – 8
Sun exposure: Sun (> 6 hours sun)
Height x width: 8-12” tall x 10-12” wide
Flower color: Purple, pink
Foliage color: Green
Season of interest: Spring and early summer
Bloom time: Spring
Features: Native, rare & unusual, cold tolerant, cut flower, deer-resistant, pollinator-friendly, rain garden, low maintenance, spring blooming, ground cover
Uses: Accent, border, container gardening, cottage gardening, edging, ground cover, massing, naturalizing, rain garden, underplanting, woodland, cut flower, pollinator garden
How to Grow
Light: Sun (6+ hours sun)
Water: Likes soil consistently moist, but not tolerant of wet soil or standing water. Drought-tolerant once established.
Spacing: 10-12 inches
Fertilizing: Fertilize early spring to produce healthy flowers with a 5-10-5 fertilizer blend.
Winterizing: No specific care is needed. Foliage dies in winter and can be cleared away in early spring before the plant sends up new shoots.
Maintenance & pruning: Deadhead spent flowers to tidy up appearance and encourage rebloom.
Plant spacing is based on the ultimate width of the plants. This figure is normally given as a range; for example, 3-5’. If you live in a cold climate and/or want plants to fill in more quickly, plan to space at the shorter end of the range. If you live in a warm climate, are on a limited budget, or are willing to wait longer for plants to touch, use the higher end of the range. Using the larger number is recommended when calculating distance from a building or structure. There’s really no such thing as "maximum spacing": if you don’t want your plants to touch, you can space them as far apart as you’d like. All plant spacing is calculated on center, or in other words, the centers of the plants are spaced one half of their eventual width apart:
Unless you are planting in a straight line, as you might for hedges or edging, space your plants in a staggered or zig-zag pattern for a more interesting and naturalistic look:
Not sure just how many plants will fit in your garden? Our calculator gives you the exact amount of plants required for your space. Simply update the values and the calculator will re-calculate accordingly. Spacing information can be found in the 'How to Grow' tab on each plant's page.