Eastern Shootingstar blooming in Allegany Co., Maryland (4/23/2016).

View Record Details Photo by Richard Orr MBP List

Shooting Star blooming in Allegany Co., Maryland (4/25/2010).

Photo by Bill Hubick MBP List

Eastern Shootingstar blooming in Washington Co., Maryland (5/1/2005).

View Record Details Photo by Jim Stasz MBP List

Eastern Shootingstar blooming in Allegany Co., Maryland (4/23/2010).

Photo by Jim Brighton MBP List

Eastern Shootingstar blooming in Washington Co., Maryland (5/1/2005).

View Record Details Photo by Jim Stasz MBP List

Eastern Shootingstar blooming in Washington Co., Maryland (4/25/2013).

Photo by Bill Hubick MBP List

Eastern Shootingstar in Allegany Co., Maryland (4/18/2017).

View Record Details Photo by Kimberly Booth MBP List

Eastern Shootingstar about to bloom in Washington Co., Maryland (4/21/2013).

Photo by Jim Brighton MBP List

The leaves of Eastern Shootingstar in Washington Co., Maryland (4/21/2013).

Photo by Jim Brighton MBP List

Eastern Shootingstar in Washington Co., Maryland (4/16/2020). (c) ptbrnchbob, some rights reserved (<a rel='license' href='http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/'>CC BY-NC</a>). (Photo ID: 330289 - Psn: 52)

Eastern Shootingstar in Washington Co., Maryland (4/16/2020). (c) ptbrnchbob, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC).

View Record Details Photo by ptbrnchbob via iNaturalist MBP List

Eastern Shootingstar in Washington Co., Maryland (4/20/2014).

View Record Details Photo by Bill Hubick MBP List

Eastern Shootingstar in Allegany Co., Maryland (5/4/2015).

View Record Details Photo by Jim Stasz MBP List

Eastern Shootingstar spent capsules in Washington Co., Maryland (10/2/2017).

View Record Details Photo by Christopher Puttock MBP List

Eastern Shootingstar (white form) blooming in Washington Co., Maryland (4/29/1995).

Photo by Bob Ringler MBP List

Eastern Shootingstar in Allegany Co., Maryland (5/3/2020). (c) pgkaestner, some rights reserved (<a rel='license' href='http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/'>CC BY-NC</a>). (Photo ID: 291723 - Psn: 200)

Eastern Shootingstar in Allegany Co., Maryland (5/3/2020). (c) pgkaestner, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC).

View Record Details Photo by Peter Kaestner via iNaturalist MBP List

Eastern Shootingstar blooming in Washington Co., Maryland (4/19/2020).

View Record Details Photo by Mark Eanes MBP List

Eastern Shootingstar in Washington Co., Maryland (4/12/2026). (c) Jim Brighton, some rights reserved (<a rel='license' href='http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/'>CC BY-NC</a>) (Photo ID: 1488804 - Psn: 200)

Eastern Shootingstar in Washington Co., Maryland (4/12/2026). (c) Jim Brighton, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)

View Record Details Photo by Jim Brighton MBP List

Eastern Shootingstar in Washington Co., Maryland (4/12/2026). (c) Jim Brighton, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)

View Record Details Photo by Jim Brighton MBP List

Eastern Shootingstar in Washington Co., Maryland (4/12/2026). (c) Jim Brighton, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)

View Record Details Photo by Jim Brighton MBP List

Eastern Shootingstar in Washington Co., Maryland (4/12/2026). (c) Jim Brighton, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)

View Record Details Photo by Jim Brighton MBP List

Eastern Shootingstar in Washington Co., Maryland (3/31/2026). (c) David Anderson, some rights reserved (<a rel='license' href='http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/'>CC BY-NC</a>) (Photo ID: 1495318 - Psn: 200)

Eastern Shootingstar in Washington Co., Maryland (3/31/2026). (c) David Anderson, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)

View Record Details Photo by David Anderson via iNaturalist MBP List

Map Snapshot

115 Records

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Status

Eastern Shootingstar is an ephemeral spring wildflower that occurs in the central and eastern United States. Across Maryland, many populations are now extirpated. Allegany, Washington, and Montgomery are the only counties with extant populations. Most of these are along the Potomac River and in Green Ridge State Forest.

Description

Eastern Shootingstar leaves are arranged in a basal rosette, from which arise one or more flower stalks. Each flower has five petals, which may be white, light pink, or rosy pink. The petals are reflexed upward, giving the flower an “inside-out” look, with stamens and pistils at the base. The anthers are long and arranged like a cone around the style (female part). The flowers have no scent.

Where To Find

This plant grows in open, often rocky forests, woodlands, and barrens. It is often found on calcareous and mafic rocks, and has a preference for slopes, where there is not heavy competition from taller plants.

Relationships

Pollination is mostly by bumblebees, which obtain pollen by the rapid vibration of their thoracic muscles, a process called "buzz pollination."

Seasonality Summary

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Resources

View at iNaturalist Search Google Images Search MBP Facebook posts

View at Maryland Plant Atlas Search Flora of North America Search Mid-Atlantic Herbaria Consortium Search Norton-Brown Herbarium Search MNPS Facebook posts

Citations

No citations linked for this taxon yet.

Use of media featured on Maryland Biodiversity Project is only permitted with express permission of the photographer.

Eastern Shootingstar blooming in Allegany Co., Maryland (4/23/2016). View Record Details Media by Richard Orr.

Shooting Star blooming in Allegany Co., Maryland (4/25/2010). Media by Bill Hubick.

Eastern Shootingstar blooming in Washington Co., Maryland (5/1/2005). View Record Details Media by Jim Stasz.

Eastern Shootingstar blooming in Allegany Co., Maryland (4/23/2010). Media by Jim Brighton.

Eastern Shootingstar blooming in Washington Co., Maryland (5/1/2005). View Record Details Media by Jim Stasz.

Eastern Shootingstar blooming in Washington Co., Maryland (4/25/2013). Media by Bill Hubick.

Eastern Shootingstar in Allegany Co., Maryland (4/18/2017). View Record Details Media by Kimberly Booth.

Eastern Shootingstar about to bloom in Washington Co., Maryland (4/21/2013). Media by Jim Brighton.

The leaves of Eastern Shootingstar in Washington Co., Maryland (4/21/2013). Media by Jim Brighton.

Eastern Shootingstar in Washington Co., Maryland (4/16/2020). (c) ptbrnchbob, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). View Record Details Media by ptbrnchbob via iNaturalist.

Eastern Shootingstar in Washington Co., Maryland (4/20/2014). View Record Details Media by Bill Hubick.

Eastern Shootingstar in Allegany Co., Maryland (5/4/2015). View Record Details Media by Jim Stasz.

Eastern Shootingstar spent capsules in Washington Co., Maryland (10/2/2017). View Record Details Media by Christopher Puttock.

Eastern Shootingstar (white form) blooming in Washington Co., Maryland (4/29/1995). Media by Bob Ringler.

Eastern Shootingstar in Allegany Co., Maryland (5/3/2020). (c) pgkaestner, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). View Record Details Media by Peter Kaestner via iNaturalist.

Eastern Shootingstar blooming in Washington Co., Maryland (4/19/2020). View Record Details Media by Mark Eanes.

Eastern Shootingstar in Washington Co., Maryland (4/12/2026). (c) Jim Brighton, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC) View Record Details Media by Jim Brighton.

Eastern Shootingstar in Washington Co., Maryland (3/31/2026). (c) David Anderson, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC) View Record Details Media by David Anderson via iNaturalist.