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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

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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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