This is a native plant, but it is not available in the 2026 Wild Ones plant sale.
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Midland Shooting Star
Dodecatheon meadia
PerennialMidland Shooting Star
Dodecatheon meadia
Tap to flip backGrowing Conditions
Light
Sun – Part Shade
Water
Medium
Soil
Any
Size
1-1.5'
Bloom
Pink, Apr–May
Why Grow It
Early Bloomer
Blooms early, providing critical spring nectar
Deer Resistant
Great for gardens without fencing
Self-Seeding
Returns each year from dropped seeds
Did You Know?
The genus name Dodecatheon means 'twelve gods' in Greek — ancient botanists believed this exquisite flower was under the care of the twelve Olympian deities.
Bees pollinate Shooting Stars through 'buzz pollination' — they vibrate their bodies against the flower to shake pollen from the narrow stamen tube, since the plant produces no nectar.
Flower color varies naturally within any population from deep purple to pink to white, with northern populations tending toward purple and southern ones toward white.
Wildlife Value
🐝
Bumblebees
Buzz-pollinate flowers by vibrating anthers
🐝
Long-horned Bees
Specialist pollinators of shooting star blooms
🐜
Green Metallic Bees
Collect pollen from downward-facing flowers
Good Companions
🌿 Wild Geranium
🌸 Foam Flower
💙 Virginia Bluebells
🌱 Pennsylvania Sedge
Planting Guide
- Plant plugs in spring in moist, part-shade woodland soil.
- Space 10 inches apart; goes dormant by midsummer.
- Mark location to avoid disturbing during summer dormancy.
Heads Up
Late to Emerge
Comes up late in spring; don't dig it up
Plant Details
Made with ♥ by Lu Li