July Blooms in my Georgia Garden: Chelone, Turtlehead

Chelone 'Hot Lips' at Shady Gardens

A cute little plant in my garden has the funny common name of Turtlehead. Chelone has pretty flowers that do resemble the head of a turtle. Legend has it that Chelone was a nymph in Greek mythology who insulted the gods by either ridiculing or not attending the marriage of Zeus to Hera. The gods punished her by turning her into a turtle.

Chelone is a perennial plant found growing wild in the Northeastern United States. Bloom spikes develop in late summer into early fall. This plant grows best in evenly moist soil. It is most often found growing in moist meadows, swamps, and along stream banks. 

Chelone is an important food source for the Baltimore Checkerspot Butterfly which loves to breed among the plants.

When happy, Chelone will grow up to 4 feet tall and about 2 feet wide. Foliage is a deep dark green. 

Chelone is hardy in USDA Zones 5 to 8, so can be grown in most of the United States. 

Chelone has few requirements, but it does need soil that is moist to wet and rich with humus. 

Light requirements are easy to provide, as chelone grows well in partial shade or full sun. In full sun, it definitely needs plenty of moisture. Mulch well, especially when growing in full sun. I suggest shredded leaves as the optimal mulch material.

Chelone is great as a wetland plant, bog plant, or along the edge of a pond, but also grows well in containers as long as you do not allow the soil to become dry.

Additional Features:

• Deer do not eat chelone
• Attracts multitudes of pollinators
• Good cut flower
  

*Chelone foliage dies back to the ground for winter dormancy in late September or early October, so mark the spot where planted to prevent accidental damage to the plant during your winter gardening chores.

Chelone glabra, White Turtlehead – White Blooms appearing in August and September atop bright green foliage.

Chelone Lyonii ‘Hot Lips’ – Bright rose-pink blooms August – September atop deep green foliage.

August Blooms in my Georgia Garden: Chelone, Turtlehead

Georgia heat has been brutal this summer, but since I have a sprinkler with a timer, the Chelone is blooming on schedule. 

Chelone is an American native plant found in the Northeastern United States, but it grows nicely here in the Southeast if it gets enough water. Chelone is also known as Turtlehead. The flower spikes are made up of individual flowers that do resemble a turtle's head. According to Greek mythology, Chelone was a nymph who refused to attend the marriage of Zeus to Hera. As punishment, the gods turned her into a turtle!

Sometime in late August or September, depending on your climate, spikes of flowers ascend in either pink or white.

Chelone loves consistently moist or wet soil beside a pond or a stream. It is perfect for a bog garden. I have mine planted in a large tub that is my makeshift bog garden. Turtlehead can be grown in regular garden soil if you have irrigation. Chelone will bloom well in either partial shade or full sun, but if you put it in full sun, be ready to water it regularly. Amend your soil with a rich humusy compost and mulch with shredded leaves. A lot of shade promotes legginess, so if growing in shade, pinch the stems back in early summer to encourage stronger stems and more flowers. 

If you live in Maryland, Chelone is a necessary perennial for the butterfly garden, since it is an important food source for the Baltimore Checkerspot Butterfly, Maryland's State Insect.

This plant can be grown in most of the United States, since it is hardy in USDA Zones 5-8.

When in bloom, Chelone makes quite a show at a height and spread of up to 4 feet. Plant a low groundcover beside it that will remain green in the winter, because Chelone disappears completely with the first frost.

Deer Resistant? Yes! Deer will not eat Chelone. 

Chelone blooms make great cut flowers too, so plant it in your cutting garden.  Like most plants I write about, Chelone is available from my favorite native plant source, Shady Gardens Nursery.