December 2006
Ohio Prairie Plant of the MonthSpecies
Common Name Shootingstar
Latin Name: Dodecatheon meadia [Pronounced: "doh-dih-KATH-ee-on MEED-ia"]
Type of Plant: Prairie Forb
Identification Helps: Small, 1 to 2 feet, with definitive flowers (see photos on left). Flowers white, pink, or lavender.
Similar Species: No other prairie plant has flowers of this form.
Preferred Growing Conditions in the Wild: This plant grows in mesic to dry soils, seldom in moist conditions.
Seasons of Growth and Bloom: This forb blooms in May and early June.
Natural Distribution in Ohio: Shootingstar is found throughout Ohio, but is vary rare. It is also found in high-quality forests and savannas.
Description and General Information: Dodecatheon meadia cannot be misidentified when in bloom. The pointed flowers are diagnostic.
Shootingstar is rare, but particularly beautiful. It grows quickly in the spring, before other plants grow up and shade low-growing plants such as shootingstar.
When growing in favorable condtions, the species is long-lived. It can make an exceptional garden plant. (But do not dig or transplant any wild shootingstars -- use only known nursery-grown plants, or plant from purchased seeds.)