Primula meadia
eastern shooting star
Overview
Primula meadia is a spring-flowering herbaceous perennial of the primrose family, forming a basal rosette of smooth, oblong leaves 4-8 inches (10-20 cm) long. In mid to late spring a leafless flowering stalk rises 12-20 inches (30-50 cm) above the rosette, carrying an open cluster of nodding flowers. Each flower has five swept-back petals, white to pink or lavender, flaring from a pointed cone of yellow and dark stamens that points downward, giving the look of a shooting star. Bumblebees pollinate the flowers by buzz-pollination, vibrating the cone to release pollen. After bloom, upright capsules form and the whole plant dies back to the rootstock, going summer-dormant by midsummer. Native to moist to dry prairies, open woods, bluffs, and glades of eastern and central North America, it grows in full sun to part shade on rich, well-drained soil that is moist in spring. Hardy in USDA zones 4-8, it reappears each spring from a perennial crown. Because it disappears after flowering, its place in the garden is easily lost. It tolerates summer drought once dormant but rots in soils that stay wet in summer. The flowers draw bumblebees, and the plant is slow to recover from heavy disturbance.
Native Range
Native to eastern and central North America, from Pennsylvania and Wisconsin south to Georgia and Texas. It grows in moist to dry prairies, open rocky woods, bluffs, glades, and meadows on rich soil.Suggested Uses
Used in spring woodland gardens, native prairies, rock gardens, and meadow plantings, spaced 8-12 inches (20-30 cm) apart. Suited to spots among later-emerging plants that fill the gap left when it goes summer-dormant.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height1' - 1'8"
Width/Spread8" - 1'
Bloom Information
Flowering occurs in mid to late spring, April to June. Nodding white to pink flowers open in a loose cluster atop the leafless stalk over two to three weeks. Capsules ripen as the foliage yellows and the plant goes dormant.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
white to pink or lavenderFoliage Description
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
Grow in full sun to part shade on rich, well-drained soil that holds moisture in spring and dries in summer. The plant needs spring moisture but rots in ground that stays wet through summer dormancy. No feeding is needed in fertile soil. It dies back by midsummer, so its spot is marked to prevent digging into the dormant crown. Hardy in USDA zones 4-8, it returns from the rootstock each spring. Plants are slow to establish and flower more freely when left undisturbed.Pruning
No pruning is needed. Spent flower stalks can be cut after the capsules ripen, or left to self-sow. The yellowing foliage is left to die back naturally to feed the crown for next year.Pruning Schedule
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
summer
Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 2 gallons