General Description
Bloom Description: Nodding flowers (8-20 per plant) with reflexed petals ranging from deep purple-pink to white. This, combined with the yellow clustered stamens, gives the impression of a shooting star. Blooms in April to June, depending on site and available moisture.
Growth Habit & Shape: Grows best in partial shade but is able to be in full sun in more temperate environments. New plants may offset from mother plant rosettes.
Soil Preferences: Mesic to dry, rocky or sandy soils. Likes light sandy soils and acidic soils. Clay soil, humusy, rocky and well drained soils. The plant can tolerate moist soil but not overly saturated.
Root Description: Fibrous root system.
Garden Uses: Shade garden, wildflower garden, rock garden, and woodland garden.
Best Management & Maintenance: After blooming, stem and seed head can be left to showcase unique shape. This plant will go dormant by mid summer and requires little maintenance and management.
Common Problems: None.
Benefits
Ornamental Value: Distinct flower makes this plant a great canidate for massing or as a specimen plant.
Wildlife Benefits: Provides pollen to bumblebees (especially queen bees), Anthophorine bees, long-horned bees, and green metallic bees.
Other Practical/Environmental Benefits:
Use in place of: Lily of the valley
Ecology
Habitat:
Per Flora of North America, this plant can be found in "moist or dry hardwoods, prairies, and limestone slopes and cliff faces"
Response to Disturbance: Does not do well in seasonally wet or flooded areas and sensitve to trampling.
Native State Distributions:
Canada: MB
USA: AL, AR, DC, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MD, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, NY, OH, OK, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA, WI, WV
Wetland indicator status: FACU
Companion Plants:
Pensylvania sedge (Carex pensylvanica), Wild geranium (Geranium maculatum), Virginia spring beauty (Claytonia virginica)
References
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