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(Dodecatheon hendersonii)
Mosquito Bills (Dodecatheon hendersonii)
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rappman
CC BY 4.0
Image By:
rappman
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Copyright:
CC BY 4.0
Copyright Notice:
Photo by: rappman | License Type: CC BY 4.0 | License URL: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ | Rights Holder: rappman | Publisher: iNaturalist | Date Created: 2020-02-25T22:31:43Z |
Estimated Native Range
Summary
Dodecatheon hendersonii, commonly known as Mosquito Bills, is a deciduous perennial herb that is summer deciduous, meaning it dies back to the ground after the rains cease. It is native to the Pacific Northwest of the United States and Canada, where it thrives in open woodlands, forest edges, and meadows. This plant typically forms basal clumps of leaves that are 2–16 cm long, with distinctive nodding flowers 6–25 mm long on stems 10–30 cm tall. The flowers range in color from magenta to deep lavender to white, with prominent stamens that thrust outward and sepals that reflex backward, creating a unique and showy appearance during its flowering season in spring.
Mosquito Bills are valued for their striking flowers and the fact that they are summer deciduous, which can be an adaptation to dry summer climates. They are often used in woodland gardens, rock gardens, and native plant landscapes. This species requires well-drained soil and a dry summer period to thrive. While it can take 3–5 years for seed-grown plants to flower, certain cultivation techniques such as frequent light fertilization, moisture management, or temperature manipulation can reduce this time to 1–2 years. Propagation by division is possible in winter. Mosquito Bills prefer shade, especially in hotter inland areas, and have earned the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit for their ornamental qualities. In cultivation, they do best in part shade to full sun, with medium water requirements, and adaptable to a range of soil drainage conditions from slow to fast.CC BY-SA 4.0
Mosquito Bills are valued for their striking flowers and the fact that they are summer deciduous, which can be an adaptation to dry summer climates. They are often used in woodland gardens, rock gardens, and native plant landscapes. This species requires well-drained soil and a dry summer period to thrive. While it can take 3–5 years for seed-grown plants to flower, certain cultivation techniques such as frequent light fertilization, moisture management, or temperature manipulation can reduce this time to 1–2 years. Propagation by division is possible in winter. Mosquito Bills prefer shade, especially in hotter inland areas, and have earned the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit for their ornamental qualities. In cultivation, they do best in part shade to full sun, with medium water requirements, and adaptable to a range of soil drainage conditions from slow to fast.CC BY-SA 4.0
Plant Description
- Plant Type: Herb
- Height: 0.6-1.3 feet
- Width: 0.2-0.3 feet
- Growth Rate: Moderate
- Flower Color: Pink, Yellow
- Flowering Season: Spring
- Leaf Retention: Deciduous
Growth Requirements
- Sun: Part Shade
- Water: Medium
- Drainage: Fast, Medium, Slow
Common Uses
Bee Garden, Butterfly Garden, Deer Resistant, Drought Tolerant, Low Maintenance, Rock Garden, Showy Flowers
Natural Habitat
Native to open woodlands, forest edges, and meadows in the Pacific Northwest
Other Names
Common Names: Broad-Leaved Shooting Star , Henderson’s Shooting Star , Sailor Caps
Scientific Names: Dodecatheon hendersonii , Dodecatheon hendersonii var. hendersonii
GBIF Accepted Name: Dodecatheon hendersonii A.Gray