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 3-4 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 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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Garden Plans

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Downspout Garden
Shade Garden
Easy Streetside Garden Plan

Plant It With

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Toad lily

Toad lily blooms at the same time as turtlehead, making a striking combination in the semishady fall garden.

Marsh marigold

Both marsh marigold and turtlehead grow well in boggy soils. Marsh marigold will start the season with brilliant gold, and turtlehead will wrap it up with pink or white blooms.

Iris

Upright grassy foliage of Siberian iris pairs nicely with the glossy green foliage of turtlehead. Its late spring blooms fills the gap when turtlehead is not blooming.

Propagation

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Division