Maryland Native Plants for Spring

Dodecatheon meadia – Shooting Star

Dodecatheon meadia, also called Shooting Star, is a native spring ephemeral; it blooms in late spring, then foliage disappears and the plant goes dormant in summer. It is indigenous to much of the eastern United States and displays unique flowers with swept-back petals and a cluster of yellow stamens converging to a point, which gives the flower the appearance of a shooting star. The flower colors range from white to pink to light purple.  Shooting star favors part shade conditions, but tolerates sun as long as the soil is kept evenly moist.

The leaves of this plant are arranged in a basal rosette, from which arise one or more flower stalks. The petals are reflexed upward, which gives the flower an “inside-out” look. Bumblebees are particularly fond of this wildflower, they obtain pollen by the rapid vibration of their thoracic muscles, a process called “buzz pollination.” The root system is fibrous and over time offsets can slowly develop.  Other bees visiting the flowers are Anthophorine bees, long-horned bees, and green metallic bees.