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Rocky Mountain Gardening

About shooting stars (plants)

15 years ago

Does anyone have experience of Dodecatheon resprouting from just the roots after the rosette has been lost (or am I looking at a cheeky weed)?

Once upon a time, this autumn just gone, my Dodecatheon clevelandii was just coming up, innocent as you please. All was going well until I went out to coo over it - and the rosette was completely gone, leaving only one very fat weta (large native cricket) and some folorn root tops.

I kept the roots sheltered over winter, and dampish because it looked that they were still alive.

Today when I looked there was greenery emerging. (It's mid spring here). Could it be???

I'd particularly like to hear from people who grow plants from root cuttings who can also say what would be prudent to do now. I'm only familiar with stem cuttings, so far.

Thanks in advance.

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Comments (3)

jclepine
15 years ago
The ones on the California coast die back to the roots from the heat.

I would give the sprout a chance, it might not be a weed!

I hope someone with more experience chimes in!!

J
digit
15 years ago
I'm going to bump this back up to the top and set it on the base of a related plant - Cyclamen, not because I've grown either dodecatheon nor cyclamen outdoors. I can't remember doing anything other than picking up a florist cyclamen as a gift.

Hardy cyclamens bloom at a different time of year but, perhaps, their care is similar.

Shooting stars are most everywhere here in the lightly forested areas and some of the grasslands. Blooming so early in the season, they are a delight for someone taking a walk in the woods on a warm Spring day.

digitS'
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vetivert8
Original Author
15 years ago
Thanks, both of you. Talk about green with envy! ..'everywhere here in the lightly forested areas...' I wish! Fuss. Cosset. Nurture.

The leaves are a little larger and I have it sitting on the mesh over my watering trough. A long and hazardous walk for an invertebrate (hehe!)

On the plus side - hardy Cyclamen readily grow and seed in this garden. I love their little curly stems, pulling the seed head back close to the ground before splitting.

Thanks for cheering me up. I'll keep on watching.

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