Dodecatheon pulchellum, commonly known as darkthroat shooting star or pretty shooting star, is a herbaceous perennial native to a variety of habitats in western North America, including moist meadows, streambanks, and open forested areas, ranging from Subarctic America to Mexico. It typically grows 4-16 inches tall with hairless flowering stems and features a rosette of basal leaves. From April to August, it produces clusters of 2 to 15 nodding flowers, each with reflexed magenta to lavender petals and a prominent dark purple ring at the base, giving rise to the common name "darkthroat." The flowers are quite showy and attract pollinators such as bees and butterflies.

The darkthroat shooting star is valued for its unique and attractive flowers, which have earned it the RHS Award of Garden Merit. It is often used in wildflower gardens, rock gardens, and woodland plantings. This plant prefers well-drained, neutral to acidic soil and thrives in partial to full shade. It requires consistent moisture during its growing season but is relatively low maintenance once established. While generally disease-free, it can be susceptible to root rot if overwatered or planted in poorly drained soils. It is not known for being invasive and does not have aggressive roots, making it a safe choice for most garden settings.CC BY-SA 4.0