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Alpine RockeryHerbaceous Perennial

Dodecatheon dentatum

toothed American cowslip

A herbaceous perennial forming a clump of toothed, oval leaves, with nodding white flowers 2cm in length in terminal umbels on stems to 30cm in height in late spring

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Ultimate height

0.1–0.5 metres

Time to ultimate height

2–5 years

Ultimate spread

0.1–0.5 metres

Chalk

Clay

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Moist but well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun
Partial shade

Aspect

North–facing or West–facing or East–facing or South–facing

Exposure

Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Primulaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Clump forming
Genus: Dodecatheon are summer-dormant herbaceous perennials with basal rosettes of simple leaves and erect or arching stems bearing umbels of cyclamen-like flowers with strongly reflexed petals
Name status: Correct
Plant range: W North America

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in a moist but well-drained, humus-rich soil in full sun or partial shade. Suitable for woodland or rock garden

Propagation

Propagate by seed in pots in an open frame as soon as seed is ripe; seed needs exposure to cold before it will germinate or propagate by division in spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Cottage and informal garden
Rock garden
Flower borders and beds
Underplanting of roses and shrubs

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

May be susceptible to slugs and snails

Diseases

Generally disease-free

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