Shooting Star Seeds - Primula Hendersonii - Beautiful, Native, and Rare
Quantity: 25 Seeds
Shooting Star, aka Primula Hendersonii (formerly Dodecatheon Hendersonii), is a stunning perennial wildflower in the Primrose family, Primulaceae. Native to southwestern British Columbia and much of western North America, it is among the earliest native wildflowers to bloom each spring. Hardy to at least zone 4, plants form attractive basal rosettes of smooth green leaves before sending up slender flower stalks 8–16 inches tall, each carrying clusters of uniquely reflexed pink to magenta flowers with striking yellow and dark purple centres. These distinctive blooms are especially attractive to native bees and other early-season pollinators, making Shooting Star an excellent addition to pollinator gardens, woodland edges, rock gardens, and native plant landscapes. Once established, the plants require very little maintenance and will gradually form attractive colonies over time. During summer, the foliage naturally dies back as the plants enter dormancy, re-emerging the following spring.
All seeds are organic and open pollinated.
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Growing Instructions
Shooting Star seeds are best sown outdoors in autumn so they can naturally experience the winter cold required for germination. Alternatively, seeds may be cold stratified by placing them in a moist medium in the refrigerator for 8–12 weeks before sowing. If starting indoors, sow the seeds on the surface of a sterile growing medium, such as a peat and perlite seed-starting mix, and gently press them into the soil without burying them deeply, as light aids germination. Keep the growing medium consistently moist but not waterlogged. After the cold treatment, move the seeds to a bright location with temperatures around 15–20°C (59–68°F). Germination usually occurs within 2–6 weeks. Once seedlings have produced several true leaves, transplant them into larger containers before planting them in their permanent location after the danger of hard frost has passed. Shooting Star grows best in moist, well-drained soil in full sun to partial shade, especially where the soil remains moist during spring before drying somewhat during its summer dormancy.