Shooting-Star (American Cowslip)
Dodecatheon species. PRIMULACEAE.
Planting and Growing Shooting-Star
You’ll find everything you need to know to plant and grow shooting-star in the accompanying table’s tabs:
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- Flowers, foliage, and root structure of shooting-star
- Plant hardiness and growing conditions for shooting-star
- Season of bloom and planting time for shooting-star
- When, how deep, and where to plant shooting-star
- How to plant shooting-star
- Watering, fertilizing, care, and pests or diseases of shooting-star
- Landscape and container uses of shooting-star
- Comments about shooting-star and its features
Growing Shooting-Star
About 14 species of erect, mounding, sometimes bulbous or rhizomatous perennial herbs, 8–18 in. (20–45 cm) tall. Smooth, light green, oval or lance-shaped, often toothed leaves, to 5 in. (13 cm) long, forming a circular, radiating base.
Dormant after flowers fade.
Planting and Care Guide
Blooms
Showy, lavender, pink, purple, white, yellow, nodding, shooting-star-like, 5-petaled flowers, to 1-1/2-in. (38-mm) long, in sparse or numeous, radiating clusters, on leafless, erect, scapose flower stalks, in spring.
Best Climates
Semi-hardy. Zones 7–9.
Soil Type and Fertility
Moist, well-drained, sandy humus. Fertility: Rich. 6.0–7.5 pH.
Where and How to Plant
Spring in full sun to partial shade, 6–12 in. (15–30 cm) apart, after soil warms.
Proper Care
Challenging. Keep evenly moist during growth; avoid watering while dormant. Fertilize monthly until flower stalk forms. Mulch in summer. Propagate by bulbils, division, seed.
About This Plant
Good choice for accents in natural, woodland gardens. Plant nursery stock or seed. Pest and disease resistant.
Planting and Care Guide
Blooms
Showy, lavender, pink, purple, white, yellow, nodding, shooting-star-like, 5-petaled flowers, to 1-1/2-in. (38-mm) long, in sparse or numeous, radiating clusters, on leafless, erect, scapose flower stalks, in spring.
Best Climates
Semi-hardy. Zones 7–9.
Soil Type and Fertility
Moist, well-drained, sandy humus. Fertility: Rich. 6.0–7.5 pH.
Where and How to Plant
Spring in full sun to partial shade, 6–12 in. (15–30 cm) apart, after soil warms.
Proper Care
Challenging. Keep evenly moist during growth; avoid watering while dormant. Fertilize monthly until flower stalk forms. Mulch in summer. Propagate by bulbils, division, seed.
About This Plant
Good choice for accents in natural, woodland gardens. Plant nursery stock or seed. Pest and disease resistant.