How much sun does Eastern shooting star need?

Eastern shooting star grows best in part shade conditions.

When does Eastern shooting star bloom?

Eastern shooting star blooms in April and May.

Where is Eastern shooting star native?

Eastern shooting star (Primula meadia) is native to AL, AR, DC, FL and 25 more states, per the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew).

What pollinators does Eastern shooting star attract?

Eastern shooting star draws bumble bees.

Eastern shooting star

Name: Pollinator Patch
Author: Pollinator Patch

Primula meadia

Last reviewed: November 2026

Eastern shooting star (Primula meadia) is a perennial forb native to AL, AR, DC, FL and 25 more states. It blooms in April and May. The flowers draw bumble bees.

Watering reminders and freeze alerts for Eastern shooting star, free in the app.

Toxicity unknown

Eastern shooting star (Primula meadia) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.

Light

part shade

Water

medium

Size

8"–16" H × 6"–10" W

Bloom

Apr, May

Native to

AL, AR, DC, FL and 25 more states

Pollinators

bumble bees

Before you buy

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Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 461 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.

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Browse plants for this ecoregion

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A neat basal rosette of smooth leaves sends up a leafless stalk carrying a cluster of nodding, reflexed pink to lavender flowers with swept-back petals, resembling tiny shooting stars. The plant goes fully and tidily dormant by midsummer.

Growing Eastern shooting star

Grow Eastern shooting star in part shade and medium water. Mature plants reach 8 to 16 inches tall and spread 6 to 10 inches wide.

Wildlife value

The flowers require buzz pollination and are worked almost exclusively by bumble bees, which vibrate pollen loose from the anthers.

Common questions

How much sun does Eastern shooting star need?: Eastern shooting star grows best in part shade conditions.
When does Eastern shooting star bloom?: Eastern shooting star blooms in April and May.
Where is Eastern shooting star native?: Eastern shooting star (Primula meadia) is native to AL, AR, DC, FL and 25 more states, per the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew).
What pollinators does Eastern shooting star attract?: Eastern shooting star draws bumble bees.

Native range data from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew). Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.

If something looks wrong

Common plant problems, and what to check first

These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.

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Ready to grow Eastern shooting star? Add it to your garden in the Pollinator Patch App to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.

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