Lots of choices in the spring bulbs, and probably not too late to plant for you. Allium for large balls of star-shaped flowers. Kids really get a kick out of flowers that are taller than them! Anemone for small stars that can be planted right in the lawn, or on the edge of a border.

Blue Star creeper is a very lovely ground cover, useful under trees.

Also, perhaps Daffodil "Jet Fire" (a dwarf narcissus) might catch his imagination.

Star Gazer lily (named for the up-looking flowers) is one of the most famous lilies of all, and has a gorgeous fragrance too. Another is Star Fighter.

Here is a link that might be useful: Allium

Wow as I started to gather a list I had a power surge and here I am back again. Zinnia 'Star Bright' is one of my favorites some others from Thopson and Morgan that look like fun are;
Xeranthemum cylindraceum 'Lilac Stars',
a new one this year Sunflower 'Solar Eclipse',Aquilegia chrysantha 'Yellow Stars',
New Astilbe aredsii 'Showstar',Bergenia cordifolia 'Redstar',
Ipomoea 'Star of Yelta'Rehmannia angulata 'Popstar',
Lady Di runner bean,

Sounds like a very good way to introduce your children to more plants. I really enjoy reading the catalogs

Check out the Brookside Garden, I haven't any more time to wait for my SLOW computer and I'm afaird there could be another surge.

Here is a link that might be useful: http://www.google.com/search?q=cache:v-NrdhlE0Pw:www.ahs.org/nrcg.htm++theme+gardens+celestial&hl=en&client=googlet

Don't forget if you cut an apple "around the middle" it also looks like a star...

What a great idea...

Hi Heidi,
How about Moon and Stars watermelon, those are fun! Not a flower, but still really cool for kids. The foliage is mottled with green and gold, and the melons have big spots, moons, and little spots, stars. Eye catching and yummy!

Why not plant some things in the shape of some of the simpler constellations? Like bulbs for each point of the Big Dipper?

And may I come and help? ;)

Really great idea! I think columbine look like shooting stars.

If he is interested in astronmy and not just star shapes how about a moon flower vine.

Other plants with star shaped flowers are cypress vine or cardinal climber as well as the hybrid nicotianas.

Maybe Star Anise? Don't know anything about growing them myself but they are kind of pretty and edible (licorice flavored.)

Andromeda bushes are lovely and have the same name as a constellation. Morning glories have awesome colors and some have "stars" in the center.

Here is a link that might be useful:

Dodacatheon.... 'shooting stars' are their common name. if you grow it from seed, be sure to use lots of gravel in the starter, that's the way they like it, i hear.

meagan

Here's a photo of the package my Yellow Star Cactus Dahlia came in. Dahlias by the way are *very* easy to grow from seed, and why I bought the tubers this year. A photo of my young plants are below the photo of the lable. Not blooming yet :( But close.