Shooting Star (Dodecatheon meadia) 

The shooting star plant, also known as Dodecatheon meadia, is a herbaceous perennial native to North America. It typically grows about 1-2 feet tall and blooms in the spring with clusters of white, pink, or lavender flowers resembling shooting stars.

The shooting star plant prefers moist, well-draining soil and partial shade to full sun. It is often found growing in meadows, prairies, streams, and other bodies of water.

The plant has a unique pollination strategy. Its flowers produce nectar at the base of their tubes, and only long-tongued bees, such as bumblebees, can reach the nectar. As the bees push their way into the flower to get the nectar, the stamens and pistils are rubbed against their bodies, helping to transfer pollen from one flower to another.

In some cultures, the shooting star plant is claimed to have medicinal properties and has been used to treat various ailments such as colds, fevers, and rheumatism. However, always realize that there is limited scientific research on the plant's medicinal benefits, and it should only be used by consulting a healthcare professional.

Shooting star: Dodecatheon meadia, also called a shooting star or Eastern shooting star, is a herbaceous perennial wildflower. The plant is native to the United States, found in the wild in forest clearings, along the edges of woods, or in sunny clearings.

This plant enjoys partial sunshine but tolerates a few hours of full sun daily. This plant is not particular about soil quality. Instead, it requires moisture and woody materials. Amend the soil with peat moss, shredded leaves, or hardwood mulch. Once you plant it, the roots establish, and you will do little else other than basic plant care to help the shooting star. 

It adds lovely greenery to any partially sunny location in your landscape. It blossoms in the early spring and then has beautiful foliage until it goes dormant in the late summer. 

The Unique Appearance of Shooting Star Flowers 

The shooting star plant takes its name from the lovely but unusual appearance of the flower. 

A shooting star plant is on the smaller side, measuring about two feet high and two feet wide. Still, it makes an impactful statement in your garden, especially when the flowers bloom in early spring. 

The plant grows from a compact root system, with whorls of leaves forming low on the plant. The leaves are green and often have attractive red mottling. Each leaf can be relatively large, getting as big as eight inches long, and forms in seven lobes. A single, unbranched, leafless stem grows and bears the flowers.

Shooting star flowers grow in clusters atop the stem, with four or five petals each. This flower displays four to five petals. The petals are two to three-inch, elongated, pure white, and arranged in a cone shape that points down. Besides that, the flower's center (stamen) also points downward. The flowers appear suspended, creating the appearance of a shooting star. 

Where to Plant Dodecatheon meadia

The shooting star plant will grow in moderate heat conditions and needs moist, well-drained soil and partial sun. While it does tolerate short dry spells, you'll need to water it during an extended drought. 

You can use this plant in the middle of a garden border, in a natural area or rock garden, or in any flower bed that needs a touch of life in the early springtime.

Order Your Shooting Star Plants From TN Nursery

When you order your shooting stars from TN Nursery, you will receive robust, fresh bare-root plants. Order today.