Flower profile
Dark-throated shooting star
Primula pauciflora
Dark-throated shooting star (Primula pauciflora) is a flowering plant in the Primulaceae family, blooming mostly April–July across the U.S.
Dark-throated shooting star is a flowering plant. It's on our flower lists for 3 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in April–July.
*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.
On our lists for: Alaska, Colorado, South Dakota
Quick look
Primula pauciflora, the pretty shooting star, few-flowered shooting star, dark throat shooting star or prairie shooting star, is a species of flowering plant in the primula family Primulaceae. It is a widespread and very variable species, native to western North America, from Subarctic America to Mexico, often in xeric and desert habitats. It is found in the Great Basin Deserts and Mojave Desert.
- It belongs to the Primulaceae family. iNaturalist
- NatureServe lists it as native to Colorado, Alaska and South Dakota. NatureServe
- In Colorado, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in May–July. iNaturalist
- iNaturalist has 2,181 research-grade sightings of it in Colorado, ranking #71 among the 160 flowers on our Colorado list. iNaturalist
- iNaturalist has 484 research-grade sightings of it in Alaska, ranking #89 among the 121 flowers on our Alaska list. iNaturalist
- iNaturalist has 232 research-grade sightings of it in South Dakota, ranking #61 among the 126 flowers on our South Dakota list. iNaturalist
When does it bloom?
Bloom time in the 3 states whose Bloomipedia list includes it
| State | Type | Peak bloom | Sightings* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado | Native | May–July | 2,181 |
| Alaska | Native | few records (29) | 484 |
| South Dakota | Native | few records (12) | 232 |
Conservation status
- Federal (U.S. ESA)
- Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
- NatureServe global
- G5 Secure worldwide. NatureServe
- Colorado
- No list Colorado has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Colorado ranks instead. NatureServe: S4, apparently secure in Colorado.
- Alaska
- No list Alaska has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Alaska ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Alaska.
- South Dakota
- No list South Dakota's endangered and threatened list (ARSD 41:10:02) covers animals only, so we show NatureServe's South Dakota ranks for plants. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in South Dakota.
- Rare elsewhere
- No other U.S. state ranks it S1, S2, SH or SX.
Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.
Can you eat it?
None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no page for this plant)) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people.
It isn't on the ASPCA plant list. For context only: ASPCA lists a related species, Primula vulgaris (“Primrose”), as toxic to dogs and cats. That doesn't tell us about this species, so keep pets away to be safe. ASPCA
🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.
Where does it grow?
USDA PLANTS has no state-by-state distribution for this name, so we can't map it yet.
Names, range and relatives
Other Primula on Bloomipedia (3): Henderson's shooting star, Eastern shooting star, Parry's primrose.
More from the Primulaceae family (14 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Scarlet pimpernel, Northern starflower, Western starflower, Creeping jenny, Fringed loosestrife, Whorled loosestrife, Swamp candles, Coralberry.
More Colorado flowers
Sources
- USDA PLANTS: no profile matched this name.
- iNaturalist, Primula pauciflora: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
- Wikipedia, Primula pauciflora (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Colorado: Colorado noxious weed lists A, B and C (8 CCR 1206-2, eff. May 15, 2025).
- Alaska: Alaska prohibited and restricted noxious weeds (11 AAC 34.020).
- South Dakota: South Dakota statewide noxious weeds (ARSD 12:62:03:01.06).
- USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
- NatureServe Explorer, Primula pauciflora (global and state ranks).
- Edibility and toxicity: ASPCA.
- Photo: Tom Norton via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized.