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Primula pauciflora

Dark-throat Shootingstar · Southern Shootingstar · Darkthroat Shootingstar

Family PrimulaceaeGenus Primula

Also published as Dodecatheon pulchellum. You are in the right place.

A cluster of magenta flowers with reflexed petals and bright yellow anther bases, over red soil
FlowerStan ShebsCC BY-SA 3.0

About the plant

What it is and where it grows — not part of any germination protocol.

The plant

Habit
perennialPlants of the World Online
Habit
Perennial, Forb/herbPLANTS Database
Height
2.0 ft60 cmPLANTS Database
Flower
PurplePLANTS Database
Blooms
Late SpringPLANTS Database
Native range
Alaska, Canada, lower 48 statesPLANTS Database

Growing conditions

Sun
Shade tolerance: MediumPLANTS Database
Soil
Adapted to coarse, medium textured soilsPLANTS Database
Soil pH
6.0-7.8PLANTS Database
Moisture
Moisture use: MediumPLANTS Database
Watering
Drought tolerance: LowPLANTS Database

Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.

Sources: Plants of the World Online — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; PLANTS Database — USDA NRCS.

Worth knowing

  • Under the name Dodecatheon pulchellum, this shooting star has the RHS Award of Garden Merit. It is now classed as Primula pauciflora. Without enough moisture in the growing season it dies back to the roots, but it comes back the next year. Wikipedia: Primula pauciflora

This source reports two treatments. Both are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1998

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 15, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

No stated waiting before sowing. Germination time not stated; 21 days assumed.

50% germination.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1998 · 2nd Supplement, Dodecatheon p. 31Public domain
Show the original text
Dodecatheon (Primulaceae). D. pulchellum germ. 70D(50%) and 40- 70D(50%)(2nd Ed.). The sample studied by KR required GA-3 or GA-4 with CK for best germination (55% in 3rd w), and none germ. without gibberellins. The discrepancy is possibly due to the use of oscillating T (50-80) by KR. There is also a question of the identity of her commercial sample.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement, 2nd Supplement, Dodecatheon p. 31. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 2

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1998

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around December 15, 2026 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  2. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

about 3 months from start to step 2. Germination happens during step 2; time not stated, 21 days assumed.

50% germination.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1998 · 2nd Supplement, Dodecatheon p. 31Public domain
Show the original text
Dodecatheon (Primulaceae). D. pulchellum germ. 70D(50%) and 40- 70D(50%)(2nd Ed.). The sample studied by KR required GA-3 or GA-4 with CK for best germination (55% in 3rd w), and none germ. without gibberellins. The discrepancy is possibly due to the use of oscillating T (50-80) by KR. There is also a question of the identity of her commercial sample.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement, 2nd Supplement, Dodecatheon p. 31. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

How each step is done, in Deno’s words, and what Verified and Derived mean.

Germination trials

Readers’ own records of sowing this species, published after review. Share your trial · All trials

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