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Scientific Name:
Primula pauciflora (syn. Dodecatheon pulchellum )
Pronunciation:
PRIM-you-luh paw-si-FLORE-uh
Common Name:
shooting star
Family Name:
Primulaceae
Plant Type:
Herbaceous perennial
Key ID Features:
Leaves basal, spoon-shaped to oblanceolate, blades more than 3 times long as wide, margins mostly entire, gradually tapering to the short, broadly-winged petiole, up to 20cm long; umbels with up to 20 nodding florets 1-2cm long, with curved-back petals that are usually pink with yellow throat that fades to white.

Habit:
Arching
Form:
Mounded
Texture:
Medium - coarse
Mature Height:
0.2 - 0.4m
Mature Spread:
0.1 - 0.3m
Origin:
B.C. east of Cascades, B.C. west of Cascades, U.S. - northwest, U.S. - southwest
Hardiness Rating:
Zone 5: (-29 to -23 °C)
Exposure:
Full sun only if soil kept moist, Part sun/part shade
Soil/Growing Medium:
Humus rich
Landscape Uses:
Native planting, Perennial border, Rock garden, Small garden/space, Spring interest, Woodland margin
Additional Info:
Google. Many similar looking species such as P. meadia which is also commonly sold locally.

Leaf Morphology:
Form:
Simple
Arrangement:
Basal
Texture/Venation:
Soft flexible
Surfaces:
Pubescent
Shapes:
Obovate, Spatulate
Apices:
Acute
Bases:
Attenuate
Margins:
Dentate, Entire

Inflorescence Type:
Umbel
Flower Morphology:
Flowers perfect
Number Of Petals:
5
Ovary Position:
Superior
Colour (petals):
Showy, Violet, Pink
Flower Time at Peak:
May, Jun
Additional Info:
Petals reflexed covering the receptacle and part of the pedicel

Fruit Type:
Capsule
Fruit Colour:
Brown
Fruiting Time:
Jul, Aug

Bark or Stem Colour:
Pest Susceptibility:
(Drought tolerant)

Course(s):
  • not used (on campus)
Location(s):
  • (WLG)  WoodLand Garden
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