Late Summer Blooming Beauties: Turtlehead
Chelone glabra – Turtlehead
Chelone glabra , also called Turtlehead is a herbaceous perennial. The common name, Turtlehead, comes from its white blooms that resemble turtles sticking their heads out of their shells. Their foliage is typically a darker green with coarsely- toothed, lance-shapped leaves, and their flowers typically bloom in the late summer into the fall. These plants can grow anywhere from 2 feet to 3 feet tall with a slightly smaller horizontal spread ranging from 1.50 feet to 2.50 feet. Chelone glabra prefers partial shade but can also handle full sun in wetter conditions. Butterflies, hummingbirds, and other pollinators find these flowers attractive while deer tend to leave them alone.
Latin Name: Chelone glabra
Type: Herbaceous perennial
Family: Plantaginaceae
Native Range: United States
Zone: 3 to 8
Height: 2.00 to 3.00 feet
Spread: 1.50 to 2.50 feet
Bloom Time: August to October
Bloom Description: White with pink tinge
Sun: Part shade
Water: Medium to wet
Maintenance: Low
Suggested Use: Naturalize, Rain Garden
Flower: Showy
Attracts: Butterflies
Tolerate: Erosion, Wet Soil
(Plant information from the Missouri Botanical Garden)
Chelone glabra Turtlehead flower
Chelone glabra flower and bee