Plant types

Plant styles

Planting conditions

Seasonal interest

Nurseries & Gardens

Photo by Eric in SF

This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 license.

Show all photos

Dodecatheon hendersonii

Also Known As

Primula hendersonii
Mosquito-Bills
Sailor's Cap
Shooting Stars
Western Shooting Star

Plant type

bulb / corm / tuber

size

H: 8"-12"
W: 6"-12"

planting zones

6a-9b

More Options

Dodecatheon hendersonii plant details

Dodecatheon hendersonii is a broadleaf deciduous bulb / corm / tuber with green foliage. In spring purple flowers emerge. Grows well with sun - mostly shade and even moisture water. Drought tolerant once established. Prefers to be dry in summer. Does well in well-drained soil.

CHARACTERISTICS OF Dodecatheon hendersonii

Plant type: bulb / corm / tuber
Plant family: primulaceae
Foliage: deciduous green
Mature size: 6 IN - 12 IN - wide, 8 IN - 12 IN - tall
Flowers: purple blooms in spring
Uses: container plant, edging plant, rock garden, summer dormant, woodland garden

GROWING CONDITIONS for Dodecatheon hendersonii

USDA Zones: 6a - 9b
Sun exposure: sun - mostly shade
Watering frequency: even moisture

Soil needs: well-drained

Nursery contributed plant descriptions

Dodecatheon hendersonii is a western North American native shooting star that is locally common at the southern tip of Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands but rare elsewhere. It has broad, rounded leaves topped with loose umbels of mid pink flowers with reflexed petals and white, yellow, and burgundy detailing. Attracts native bees such as bumblebees. Best in average to rich soil and full to part sun. Goes summer dormant. Dodecatheon are now considered to be in the genus Primula.

By: Phoenix Perennials and Specialty Plants Ltd.

A sweet Willamette Valley native, Shooting Stars have purple reflexed petals and a black "mosquito bill" (another of its common names) and pale green leaves in a basal rosette. 10" tall flower stems carry these spritely nodding purple lovelies that can naturalize to create drifts in dappled shade. Summer dormant, so winter moist, summer dry. Minimum temperature: -10 °F

By: Dancing Oaks Nursery

Another West Coast native, with pink to magenta flowers above spoon-shaped foliage. These particular ones here at hand are divisions of a dark pink-magenta blooming plant.

By: Edelweiss Perennials

Blooms: Spring-summer, pink-purple/ deciduous, oval leaves Zone 6-9. 6"-16", PNW, part shade-sun moist, well drained

By: Keeping it Green Nursery

Summer deciduous. Magenta flowers.

By: Little Prince of Oregon

Included in the genus Primula by some molecular botanists (who we would like to commit selective grevous bodily harm upon given the slightest opportunity) but is Dodecatheon to us. Native to the West Coast in vernally moist areas. Pink flowers to 12" tall.

By: Far Reaches Farm

Garden photo gallery of Dodecatheon hendersonii

Photo of Dodecatheon hendersonii flower by Eric in SF

View Full Size

By: Eric in SF

This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 license.

View Original Photo

Photo of Dodecatheon hendersonii flower by Dancing Oaks Nursery

View Full Size

By: Dancing Oaks Nursery

View Original Photo

Photo of Dodecatheon hendersonii by Panayoti Kelaidis

View Full Size

By: Panayoti Kelaidis

View Original Photo

Photo of Dodecatheon hendersonii flower by Keeping it Green Nursery

View Full Size

By: Keeping it Green Nursery

View Original Photo

Gardening facts about Dodecatheon hendersonii plant

How to Grow Dodecatheon hendersonii

Sun Exposure
- sun - mostly shade
Water Needs
- even moisture - drought tolerant
Water Needs
- dry in summer
Soil Needs
- well-drained

Features

Foliage Color
- green
Flower Color
- purple
Flower Season
- spring
Foliage Season
- deciduous

Landscape groups by tags

See other plant types of Dodecatheon for your garden

Dodecatheon pulchellum

aka Dodecatheon pulchellum subsp. pulchellum, Primula pauciflora, Darkthroat Shooting Star, Prairie Shooting Star, Pretty Shooting Star, Shooting Star, Shooting Stars