Chelone glabra
A native North American wetland perennial with white turtle-head-shaped two-lipped flowers on upright spikes, blooming in late summer to fall, attracting bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, serving as a Baltimore Checkerspot host plant, and growing about 2–4 feet tall in moist soils.
Common Names
Turtlehead, Shellflower, Snakehead, Snakemouth, Cod Head, Fish Mouth, Balmony, Bitter Herb
Summary
Chelone glabra, commonly called Turtlehead, is a native eastern North American herbaceous perennial that grows upright in clumps to about 2-4 feet tall with dark green lance-shaped opposite leaves. Its distinctive white, two-lipped tubular flowers form dense terminal spikes on sturdy stems from midsummer to autumn, resembling a turtle’s head and attracting bumblebees, butterflies, and hummingbirds; Baltimore checkerspot butterfly larvae feed on the foliage. In cultivation it prefers moist to wet soils and full sun to partial shade, and is hardy in USDA zones 3-8. It spreads slowly by rhizomes to form clumps and can be divided every 3-4 years to maintain vigor; ideal for rain gardens, pond margins, wetlands, and native plantings. It supports pollinators and wildlife, tolerates regular watering, requires consistent moisture, and is not invasive; propagation by seed or division is common, with mulch helping retain moisture.
Lifecycle
Perennial
Height
2-3 feet
Spread
12-24 inches
Hardiness Zones
Zones 3-8
Sunlight Requirements
Full Sun to Partial Shade.
Soil Type
Moist, loamy soil rich in organic matter that drains well and remains consistently moist, with a neutral to slightly acidic pH.
Soil Drainage
Moist to wet, well-drained soil that stays consistently damp
Soil pH
6.0-7.0, Slightly acidic to neutral
Bloom Color
White
Bloom Time
Late Summer to Fall (August–October)
Foliage Color
Dark green
Fall Foliage Color
Green
Leaf Lifecycle
Deciduous
Growth Rate
Medium growth rate, about 2 years to reach maturity, spreads slowly by rhizomes.
Seasons of Interest
Summer and Fall
Propagation Methods
Seeds, Division
Attracts Wildlife
Bees, Butterflies, Hummingbirds, Other pollinators
Taxonomy
- Taxonomic Rank
- Species
- Author
- L.
- Publication
- Sp. Pl. : 611 (1753)
Superior Taxa
- Kingdom
- Plantae
- Subkingdom
- Pteridobiotina
- Phylum
- Angiosperms
- Order
- Lamiales
- Family
- Plantaginaceae
- Genus
- Chelone
Inferior Taxa
Synonyms
Chelone alba Chelone chlorantha Chelone glabra var. alba Chelone glabra var. chlorantha Chelone glabra var. dilatata Chelone glabra subsp. dilatata Chelone glabra subsp. elatior Chelone glabra var. elongata Chelone glabra subsp. elongata Chelone glabra var. lanceolata Chelone glabra var. linifolia Chelone glabra subsp. linifolia Chelone glabra var. ochroleuca Chelone glabra subsp. ochroleuca Chelone glabra var. purpurea Chelone glabra f. rosea Chelone glabra f. tomentosa Chelone montana Chelone montana var. elatior Chelone purpurea Chlonanthes glabra Chlonanthes montana Chlonanthes tomentosa Dysosmon amoenum Chelone glabra var. capitata Chelone glabra var. maculata Chelone glabra var. obliquea Chelone glabra var. elatior Chelone glabra f. glabra Chelone glabra var. typica Chelone glabra var. alba Chelone glabra var. purpurea Chelone glabra subsp. chlorantha Chelone glabra f. velutina Chelone linifolia Chelone glabra var. glabra Chelone glabra var. purpurea Chelone glabra subsp. typica Chelone glabra var. lanceolata