Chelone glabra (Turtlehead)

One of the few native wildflowers still blooming in late summer, turtlehead's distinctive snapdragon-like flowers are a genuine late-season nectar source for bumblebees, and the species' sole larval host role for the Baltimore Checkerspot butterfly makes it worth specifying wherever consistently moist soil is available.

Species Overview

Chelone glabra is a clump-forming perennial in the Plantaginaceae family, native to wetlands and streambanks of eastern North America. It grows 2 to 4 feet tall and features dark green foliage with upright stems. In late summer to early fall, it produces white, snapdragon-like flowers, named for their resemblance to a turtle's head, that attract pollinators, especially bees.

Application

• Wetland and streambank restoration
• Rain garden and pond-edge plantings
• Late-season pollinator habitat, particularly for bumblebees
• Larval host habitat for the Baltimore Checkerspot butterfly

Growing Conditions / Specification Data

• Light: Full Sun to Part Shade
• Soil/Moisture Tolerance: Moist to wet, fertile soils rich in organic matter; tolerates periodic flooding
• Plant Type: Forb
• Mature Height: 2-4 ft.
• Fall Color: Insignificant/None
• Bloom Color / Period: Pink, White; August-October
• Wetland Indicator Status: OBL (Obligate Wetland)
• Native Range: Newfoundland to Georgia, Mississippi to Manitoba
• Hydrology: Wet
• Root Depth: Moderate (12-24 in.)
• Salinity Tolerance: None
• Growth Rate: Moderate
• Drought Tolerance: Low
• Deer Resistance: Yes (Rarely Damaged)
• Flood Tolerance: High - A wetland forb of wet meadows, streamsides, and swamps; tolerates periodically saturated to standing water.
• Shade Tolerance: Tolerant
• Growth Habit: Clumping/Mounding
• USDA Hardiness Zones: 3-8
• Pollinator Value: Larval host, supports bees, supports butterflies

Planting Guidance

• Will stretch and may need staking in shadier sites - pinch stems in spring or early summer to maintain a more compact habit.