Did you know the shooting star is a fragile, nodding spring wildflower, which is native to the American grassland and was originally widely distributed throughout open, amp woodlands and rocky slopes?
The primula family includes the native perennial wildflower known as the shooting star. It grows in basal clumps with lance-shaped leaves from which 20-inch flower stalks with drooping clusters of 1-inch white, purple, or pink flower merge in the spring. A shooting star is typically planted in the spring from potted nursery plants and it grows slowly and does not spread quickly.
Steps to take care of shooting star flowers
The shooting star plant is a spring ephemeral, which means that after the spring it disappears from view. Plants go dormant, die back, and finally channel all of their vitality back into the roots throughout the summer. Don’t panic, this perennial will resurface in the spring when the weather is mild and the soil is moist, signaling the plants to be growing once more.
Light
Shooting star plants thrive in partial sunlight and since the plants are dormant during the summer, you can place them beneath the dense canopy of deciduous trees, which offers dappled light in the spring before leafing out to give shade for the plants resting stage. This plant can handle full sun in a temperate climate, but it prefers more shade in warmer climates.
Soil
Although they may survive some clay soils, shooting star plants thrive and colonise areas of sandy or well-draining loam. It often takes several years for new plants to appear during colonization. The leaf mold that collects beneath mature trees is ideal for growing plants.
Water
The average water requirement for shooting stars is 1 inch per week during the active flowering season. In the sweltering summer, less water is required and shooting stars' adaptability to summer hibernation makes them resistant to drought.
Humidity and temperature
The more springtime temperatures and light rains of April through June are ideal for shooting star plants. As the summer warms up, they go into hibernation, but as the fall air cools, the basal foliage clusters may come back. If the soil moisture is suitable, this plant can withstand both dry and humid air conditions.
Fertiliser
Plants that produce shooting stars don’t require extra fertiliser and they have a genetic propensity to flourish in their natural soils without the addition of extra nitrogen. When the plants are actively growing, side-dress them with a shovelful of compost if your soil is particularly poor.
Start growing shooting star flowers in your native backyard garden. Trust us, it is simple and results in multitudes of beautiful blooms.
