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The Shooting Star (Dodecatheon meadia), also known as Eastern Shooting Star, is a perennial wildflower native to North America. It is celebrated for its distinctive, nodding flowers that resemble tiny shooting stars, making it a charming addition to spring gardens.
Key Features:
Flowers: In mid to late spring, leafless flower stalks up to 18 inches tall emerge from a basal rosette of leaves. Each stalk bears an umbel of 8-20 flowers, each about one inch long, with five reflexed petals in shades of purple, pink, or white, and a cluster of yellow stamens converging to a downward point.
Foliage: The plant forms a low rosette of smooth, lance-shaped leaves that are light green and grow up to 6 inches long.
Growth Habit: Typically reaches a height of 12 to 18 inches during flowering, after which the foliage may go dormant in the summer, especially in hotter climates.
Cultivation and Care:
Light: Prefers partial shade, mimicking its native woodland habitat. It can tolerate full sun in cooler climates if the soil remains consistently moist.
Soil: Thrives in moist, well-drained soils rich in organic matter. Avoid poorly drained sites to prevent root rot.
Watering: Requires consistent moisture during its active growth period in spring. Once the plant goes dormant in the summer, reduce watering.
Hardiness: Suitable for USDA hardiness zones 4 through 8.
Maintenance: Minimal; the plant is relatively pest-free and not favored by deer. After flowering, allow the foliage to die back naturally.
The Shooting Star is an excellent choice for woodland gardens, shaded borders, or naturalized areas, providing early-season interest with