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Dodecatheon pulchellum
Pretty Shooting Star
Western North America from Alaska to northern Mexico
Overview
A clump-forming herbaceous perennial reaching 6-18 inches (15-45 cm) tall during flowering and 4-8 inches (10-20 cm) wide, growing from a cluster of small white ricegrain bulblets attached to a fibrous rootstock. Leaves form a basal rosette of narrowly oblanceolate to spatulate blades 1-6 inches (2.5-15 cm) long, slightly fleshy, light to mid-green, narrowing gradually to a winged petiole. Flowering scapes carry 1-25 nodding flowers in an open umbel; petals 0.4-0.75 inch (10-18 mm) long, strongly reflexed, magenta-pink to lavender or rarely white, with a yellow band edged in maroon and a column of dark stamens at the center. Flowers appear April through July across the species' wide elevational range; high alpine populations bloom into August. Plants enter summer dormancy 6-10 weeks after flowering as foliage withers and stems collapse. Seedlings reach flowering size in 3-5 years from cold-stratified seed. Stands persist 5-10 years on suitable sites; cultivation under summer irrigation typically reduces stand life to 2-3 years through crown rot.
Native Range
Native to most of western North America from Alaska and Yukon south through British Columbia, the Pacific states, the Rocky Mountain region, and Great Plains margins to northern Mexico. Found in wet meadows, streamside seeps, alpine fellfields, and moist grasslands from sea level to 12,000 feet (3,650 m).Suggested Uses
Planted in moist meadow plantings, streamside borders, and alpine rock gardens within zones 3-8, at 4-8 inch (10-20 cm) spacing. Pairs with sedges, Camassia spp., and other early-season geophytes in the same moisture regime. Container culture is rarely successful beyond 2-3 years because crown rot follows summer irrigation in standard pot media.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height6" - 1'6"
Width/Spread4" - 8"
Reaches mature size in approximately 5 years
Bloom Information
April through July at low and mid elevations, with peak flowering in May and June; alpine populations may bloom into August. Each flower lasts 5-7 days; total bloom per stand 4-6 weeks. Snowmelt timing controls bloom onset in mountain populations.Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
Magenta-pink to lavenderFoliage Description
Light to mid-greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 4-8 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Seeds require 8-12 weeks of moist cold stratification at 32-40°F (0-4°C) before germination. Established plants benefit from consistent soil moisture during the spring growth period; on natural sites the rootstock relies on snowmelt or seasonal seeps that taper through summer. Crown rot develops on summer-irrigated heavy soils and is the primary cause of stand decline in cultivation. Slugs damage emerging leaves in March and April in coastal climates. Stands are commonly thinned by mid-summer drought; populations on consistently moist sites may persist as much as a decade with no division required.Pruning
Withering foliage is left in place during summer dormancy and pulls free from the rootstock by August. Spent scapes can be trimmed at the base after seed dispersal if self-seeding is not desired. Mid-season cutting is not done, as the basal rosette and single scape carry all photosynthetic activity for the season.Pruning Schedule
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
summer
Maintenance Level
lowContainer Growing
Minimum container size: 1 gallons