Very few species of bees can pollinate the Saline Shootingstar, a plant found on saline (salty) grasslands. Visiting bees do not feed on nectar. Instead, they vibrate their wings to a specific frequency causing pores on the anthers to open, and the pollen inside to come loose and spill over the bees. This process is called buzz pollination.

Flower Colour:

• Pink

Flowering Season:

• Spring
• Summer

Flowering Months:

• April
• August
• July
• June
• May

Canadian Rarity Status:

Not rare. Listed as “may be at risk” in Yukon and “sensitive” in the Northwest Territories.

Physical Appearance:

This perennial grows 5-40 cm tall. Its spoon-shaped leaves have stalks and smooth to faintly toothed edges, occurring in a basal clump. The nectarless flowers are arranged in a nodding cluster of 1-25, on top of a leafless stem. Each one has five pink petals, bent backwards and joined at the base in a yellow band. The five joined stamens stick out as a pointed, yellow and reddish-purple tube. The cylinder to egg-shaped fruits split open to release their many seeds.

Similar Species:

Mountain Shootingstar (Dodecatheon conjugens Greene)

Gardening Notes:

Seeds and/or plants are often available from greenhouses and seed supply companies specializing in native plants. Saline Shootingstar grows easily from seed.

Canadian Distribution:

• Alberta
• British Columbia
• Manitoba
• Northwest Territories
• Saskatchewan
• Yukon

Prairie Types:

• Fescue Prairie
• Mixed Grass Prairie
• Tall Grass Prairie

Habitats:

• Meadows
• Prairies
• Salt Flats
• Wetlands

Moisture Conditions:

• Moist

Light Preference:

• Full Sun
• Part Shade

Soil Preference:

• Clay
• Saline