Primula fassettii – Jeweled Shooting Star – 1-Pint

A close relative of Eastern Shooting Star (P. meadia) with generally darker flowers, most a deep reddish-purple, and slightly more diminutive stature. It has a disjunct distribution in North America, occurring in a number of counties in Southeastern Pennsylvania, then skipping over to the Upper Midwest, in the states of Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa and Illinois, mostly near the Mississippi River. It likes it a little bit shadier than P. meadia, and blooms a couple of weeks later. So you can extend the shooting star flowering season in your garden by planting both species. Prefers a bit of a limey soil – use plenty of compost in your planting or top-dress occasionally with limestone.