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Chelone glabra, commonly called turtlehead, is a stiffly erect, clump-forming, leafy-stemmed, Missouri native perennial which typically grows 2-3' tall and occurs in moist woods, swampy areas and along streams mostly in the southeastern part of the State. Hooded, snapdragon-like, two-lipped, white flowers with a tinge of pink appear in tight, spike-like terminal racemes from late summer into autumn. Flowers purportedly resemble turtle heads. Coarsely-toothed, lance-shaped, dark green leaves.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons | R. A. Nonenmacher

Larval Host for the

Baltimore Checkerspot Butterfly

3-6'

1.5-2.5'

SIZE

SOIL

Moist Loam, Acidic

LIGHT

Shade, Part Shade, Part Sun, Sun

BENEFITS

Hummingbirds, Butterflies, Baltimore Checkerspot

NOTES

CHARACTERISTICS

Will Naturalize, Low Maintenance, Showy

August, October

Flower

This 

flowers in

WhiteTurtlehead

Chelone glabra

DETAIL VIEW

DESCRIPTION

Chelone glabra, commonly called turtlehead, is a stiffly erect, clump-forming, leafy-stemmed, Missouri native perennial which typically grows 2-3' tall and occurs in moist woods, swampy areas and along streams mostly in the southeastern part of the State. Hooded, snapdragon-like, two-lipped, white flowers with a tinge of pink appear in tight, spike-like terminal racemes from late summer into autumn. Flowers purportedly resemble turtle heads. Coarsely-toothed, lance-shaped, dark green leaves.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons | R. A. Nonenmacher
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