Description
An inhabitant of open woodlands, Henderson’s shooting stars are familiar and much-loved spring wildflowers. Flowering April-June, the unique, nodding, vibrant magenta flowers arise from a tuber-like root that goes dormant in the summer after spring rain has ceased. To grow under cultivation it needs good drainage and summer drought. Shooting stars are a cheerful addition to a woodland or rock garden and will self sow from seed and slowly spread on their own. Plants may take 3-5 years to flower when grown from seed. Recent phylogenetic evidence has caused Calflora to classify Henderson’s shooting star in the genus Primula, however, Oregon Flora Project still classifies it as Dodecatheon. Henderson’s shooting star requires “buzz pollination” from bees for successful pollination. Bumble bees are the primary pollinator.
Henderson’s shooting star (Dodecatheon hendersonii) seed packets contain approximately 100 seeds per packet.
Seed Germination Instructions
This species requires 60-90 days cold-moist stratification. If you live in an area with cold enough winters you can simply sow the seeds outside in fall to early spring and let nature do the work, or if you live in an area with mild winters, you can use artificial methods for stratification. For more information about cold-stratification and seed germination, read more on our website here.
