Turtlehead Wildflower
Chelone glabra
Close your eyes and look real close and you should be able to see the resemblance to a turtle’s head.
The flowers are set in a tight cluster at the top of the stem. Each tubular flower consists of two swollen lips. The upper lip arches over the hairy lower lip and giving the flower it’s turtle head look. The white flowers are often tinged with pink.
September 6, 2008 – Canton, NY
Turtleheads bloom from July to September and can be found along stream banks, wet thickets and other low wet areas. If you’re lucky you might also find Blue Gentians in the same area.
I have found Turtleheads in full sun but they seem to prefer part shade since the majority I’ve found have been in shady spots.
Nurseries offer Chelone glabra for sale and they make a nice addition to a wet garden.
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January 4th, 2009 at 2:01 pm
I am learning so much from you.
January 5th, 2009 at 1:21 am
I looked at the photo before I read anything, and I thought they looked like mouths, some with little tongues sticking out. The name fits them very well. I like these. They remind me of my favorite flowers, snapdragons.
January 5th, 2009 at 9:19 am
Luckily they are not in dark colour, or else they resemble snakes with splitting tongues sticking out.
January 6th, 2009 at 4:46 pm
How amazing. They are beautiful. Do they multiply by seed or division ?
January 11th, 2009 at 4:21 pm
I have the all-pink variety as well as the white ones, John. I especially like the seedheads. And here in NS, they flower late summer/early autumn (well, in my garden, they’re earlier in the ditches and meadows, I find) so they bring an added burst of colour to the garden.
November 14th, 2009 at 4:55 pm
How much does it cost