Chelone obliqua

Never mind the pretty pink flowers and dense foliage. The common name pink turtlehead is enough to make any consumer stop and take a gander at the tag or point-of-purchase material. Someone thought the hooded flowers resembled that of a turtle’s head, and voila, the name stuck. The pink flowers persist from mid- to late-summer through the first frost. Some sources claim this perennial lives more than 10 years in the landscape.

Why grow Chelone obliqua?

• It’s native across the Southeast, parts of the Midwest, and up into the Great Lakes states. Native plants are a huge market and demand is currently outpacing supply.
• Hummingbirds, butterflies and bees love this flower. Perfect for a pollinator marketing campaign.
• The foliage is bitter, so deer tend to leave it alone.

Specifics

• Hardiness: USDA Hardiness Zones 3-8.
• Habit: Pink Turtlehead is a dense herbaceous perennial with an upright spreading habit. It grows 3 feet tall by 3 feet wide.
• In the landscape: Use in naturalized and woodland gardens, en masse, or in a bog or rain garden. It’s also delightful as a cut flower. Grow in full sun to partial shade.
• Propagation: By division.

Sources: Dundee Nursery, Wetland Wildflowers of Illinois