Data provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria

View additional distribution information on the Jepson eflora

Dodecatheon alpinum is a species of flowering plant in the primrose family known by the common name alpine shooting star. This wildflower is native to the southwestern United States where it grows in wet areas in mountains. It is partially aquatic, sometimes growing along the edges of bogs and in shallow, slow rivulets. This is a thick-rooted perennial with narrow, straight leaves around the base. It erects slim, tall stems which are dark in color and are topped with flower clusters of one or more showy flowers. Each flower nods with its mouth pointed to the ground when new, and becomes more erect with age. It has four reflexed sepals in shades of bright pink or lavender which lie back against the body of the flower. These may have bases of white or yellow which rim the corolla. From the corolla mouth protrude large black anthers and a thready stigma.

Plant type

Perennial herb

Sun

Full Sun

Propagation

For propagating by seed: 1-3 mos. stratification.

Sunset Zones

1, 2, 3, 4, 6

Site type

Wet places, streambanks

Plant communities

Alpine Fell-Fields, Lodgepole Forest, Red Fir Forest, Subalpine Forest, Yellow Pine Forest, Wetland-Riparian

Caterpillars
Butterflies

Butterflies and moths supported

0 confirmed and 2 likely

Confirmed Likely

Arrowhead Arctic Blue

Agriades podarce

Spotted Cut-Worm

Xestia c-nigrum