Guide to growing garden plants - Dodecatheon (Prairie Pointer)
Dodecatheon members are small hardy perennials of about 15 to 45cm in height.
They are woodland plants and therefore make nice plants to grow in shaded areas of the garden.
They bloom in the spring through to the beginning of summer, and carry star shaped flowers of pink, purple or green, atop a leafless stalk.
The leaves are of a rosette nature.
Some of the common names for Dodecatheon include Prairie pointer, American cowslip and Shooting star.
How to grow Prairie Pointer (Dodecatheon)
Dodecatheon can be grown outdoors from seeds if grown in flats (covered by glass); sow the seeds on the soil surface in the flat at the end of autumn or the beginning of winter. Once the seedlings of prairie pointer (Dodecatheon) are established transplant them about 20cm (small varieties) or 50cm (large)apart. They prefer to grow in shady areas; as they are a native woodland plant, they prefer woodland soil that is both moist and rich, with a slightly acidic to neutral pH (5 to 7).
Dodecatheon seedlings can also be started off indoors and planted out in the spring. First seeds should be imbibed by placing the seeds (within soil) in a black bag, then placing in the fridge for three weeks. Seeds should then be germinated at a temperature of 15 to 18 degrees Centigrade in the light. The germination of Prairie pointer can tale anything from one month to one year.
Caring for Dodecatheon plants
Once growing in the garden it is important to keep the soil around Dodecatheon moist, and mulching is required every spring.