Taken May 27, 2010 – South Paris, Maine
Canon Rebel XSi with Canon 100mm Macro Lens
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Dodecatheon meadia
shooting star , shootingstar, Eastern shooting star, roosterheads

Perennial

Zones: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
Light: part-shade, part-sun, sun
Height: 1’-2’

Bloom Time: Apr, May, Jun
Bloom Color: white, pink, lavender
Leaf Color: green

Water Use: low, medium
Soil Moisture: dry, moist
Soil Description: acid, neutral, average, poor, loam, sand, gravel/rock

Additional Tags: bees, ephemeral, rare
Description
The shooting star is an ephemeral plant. Dramatic downward facing flowers, whose sharply swept-back pink or white petals and gold stamens coming to a point give the impression of shooting stars falling toward the earth.
Cultivation: Highly adaptable, this plant is found in open woods, glades, rocky slopes and ledges, as well as meadows and prairies. The shooting star is well adapted to average soil but will thrive in a rich environment.Proper drainage is a must. Keep moist where summers are hot and dry. Blooms April and May. Zones4-8
Propagation: Difficult to propagate from seed. Divide mature plants in fall when dormant. It is best to have previously deadheaded plants to be divided to ensure vigorous root systems.
Additional Notes: Over collection of this beautiful species has threatened its subsistence in the wild.