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Alpine RockeryHerbaceous Perennial

Dodecatheon clevelandii subsp. patulum

Padre’s shooting star

A clump-forming, summer-dormant perennial with basal rosettes of leaves and flowering stems to 30cm high bearing clusters of 5-6 nodding flowers in spring; flowers are characterised by white to purple wavy and reflexed petals tinged at the base with yellow and dark purple stamens

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Ultimate height

0.1–0.5 metres

Time to ultimate height

2–5 years

Ultimate spread

0.1–0.5 metres

Chalk

Clay

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Moist but well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun
Partial shade

Aspect

East–facing or North–facing or South–facing or West–facing

Exposure

Exposed or Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Primulaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Clump forming
Genus: Dodecatheon are summer-dormant herbaceous perennials with basal rosettes of simple leaves and erect or arching stems bearing umbels of cyclamen-like flowers with strongly reflexed petals
Name status: Correct

How to grow

Cultivation

Grows well in humus-rich soils with abundant moisture in the growing season; keep dry throughout the summer when plants are dormant

Propagation

Propagate by seed sown as soon as ripe in containers in a coldframe or by division in spring. Seeds need cold exposure for germination

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Cottage and informal garden
Rock garden
Flower borders and beds

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

May be susceptible to slugs and snails on young growth

Diseases

Generally disease-free

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