How to Transplant Dodecatheon Pulchellum

Dodecatheon pulchellum is the scientific name for shooting stars, a species of wildflower common throughout the western U.S. The tiny purple and yellow flowers feature delicately reflexed petals and a dark tip, which appear atop 2- to 15-inch-tall stalks in spring and early summer. Sowing the seeds for propagation directly into the garden bed is difficult and rarely successful, so most gardeners germinate them indoors or acquire young seedlings from native plant nurseries for transplant. Transplanting Dodecatheon pulchellum seedlings is very simple and takes just a few minutes to complete, but the seedlings suffer from a high rate of mortality even if planted with proper technique.

Dibble

Instructions

- 1
  Transplant Dodecatheon pulchellum seedlings in mid- to late October when the ground is cool, moist and soft. Choose a planting site with partial shade and moisture-retentive soil before beginning the transplant process.
- 2
  Create a series of planting holes for the Dodecatheon pulchellum seedlings. Use a dibble with a 1-inch-wide base to punch the holes. Space the holes at least 14 inches apart. Make them to a depth equal to that of the seedling cell or container the seedlings were grown in.
- 3
  Gently remove the Dodecatheon pulchellum seedlings from their cells or containers by pressing on the base to pop them out. Do not lift the seedlings by their stems.
- 4
  Place the Dodecatheon pulchellum seedlings into the planting holes. Press the soil on all sides of the holes in toward the seedling to bring the roots into contact with the surrounding soil. Do not tamp the surface of the soil around the base of the seedlings.
- 5
  Water each Dodecatheon seedling with 1 cup of water to cool the roots and keep the plants hydrated while they recover from the transplant process.
- 6
  Spread a thin layer of leaf litter around the base of each Dodecatheon pulchellum seedling to help slow the rate of evaporation in the soil. Do not disturb the seedlings after transplanting them.
- 7
  Check the Dodecatheon pulchellum seedlings in spring to see how well they survived the winter. Do not be discouraged if some of them appear to have died since they might revive as the soil warms.

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