Turtlehead

This native perennial gets its name from the shape of its unusual flowers, which resemble the heads of snapping turtles. It's a good choice for heavy, wet soils and spreads to form dense colonies of upright stems bearing pink, rose, or white flowers from late summer into fall. It grows best in some shade, but tolerates full sun with adequate moisture.

Light:

Sun, Part Sun

Zones:

4-9

Plant Type:

Perennial

Plant Height:

16-48 inches tall

Plant Width:

16-30 inches wide

Landscape Uses:

Containers, Beds & Borders

Special Features:

Flowers, Cut Flowers, Attracts Butterflies, Drought Tolerant, Tolerates Wet Soil, Easy to Grow

Top Varieties

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Pink turtlehead

(Chelone lyonii) is the tallest of turtlehead species at 3 to 4 feet in height. It bears clusters of purplish pink flowers from August through October. Zones 3-8.
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Rose turtlehead

(Chelone obliqua) flowers look quite similar to those of pink turtlehead, but they tend to be slightly darker and are borne on plants that remain under 2 feet in height. Zones 5-9.
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