PlantFiles: Red Turtlehead, Purple Turtlehead
Chelone obliqua

bought three plants a year ago - planted within 5ish feet of each other .. two plants're taller and thinner, one shorter and bushier.

all three in full sun in a pretty dry area - attracted as much to the pretty, dark green leaves as to the flowers. flowers last a long time. planted with aconitum/monkshood, as they bloom together. added shasta daisy Becky close by because it does too.

not bad, if i do say so myself!

Beautiful plant, but having a hard time keeping the leaves from turning black. Finally realized my soil is alkaline rich and needs acid. Going to take care of that today and hope it flourishes soon. Also, planted another species (I think), the common name 'Hot Lips'. Hmm. Going to look that one up.

Some sources say that Turtlehead species are the only larval host for the Maryland State insect, the Baltimore Checkerspot, but at least one gardener reported that she saw the caterpillars feeding on the leaves of nearby Penstemon digitalis 'Husker's Red". Be that as it may, the Baltimore Checkerspot is declining in Maryland and was last seen in Howard County in 1997. Two major reasons for this could be 1) habitats for the Turtlehead are disappearing thanks to development and 2) deer love having Turtlehead on their menu.

So, I hope anyone reading this who may have a moist, sunny or partially shaded spot will consider planting a Turtlehead, and visit the Butterfly Forum on DG for how-to and inspiration on making a butterfly garden.

Details of Germination:

1) [HYPERLINK@tomclothier.hort.net] - Surface sow at 20*C (68*F); if no germination in 3 - 4 wks, move to -4*C to +4*C (24*F - 39*F) for 2 - 4 wks

2) [HYPERLINK@www.onrockgarden.com] - same as Tom Clothier's method, except provide light to seeds during germination which can take up to 3 months

3) 2nd edition of Norman C. Deno's book, Seed Germination Theory and Practice - Don't throw your seeds out after the above period of warmth, because if you expose them to another 3 months at 40*F followed by 3 more months at 70*F, you may see more germination during the second 70*F period. Deno finds exposure of seeds to light to be essential.

I planted two of the turtlehead plants two years ago. Did fine until now. They are about 24-36 inches high now, and this year I'm seeing the leaves turning dark brown and crispy to the touch!! I can't seem to find out what's going on! I live in New Jersey, 07866, zone 6..The plants get about 3 hours of sun each day.
I'm wondering if they are not getting enough water?

JerseyBoy

I got my chelone obliqua as a freshly divided, wilted, 2-stalk, sorry-looking specimen in 4-inch pot in May 2002 at a church garage sale for 25 cents. I planted it in full sun and didn't worry about it It didn't do much that first year, but it did manage to flower.

Now, the chelone obliqua patch is about 3 feet wide by 2 feet deep and we don't count the stalks any more. Mine reaches 4 feet in height. It produces large quantities of seeds, which I gladly give away to friends and fellow gardeners. The plant doesn't seem subject to infestations or diseases. I haven't had to divide it yet; I'll let nature run its course.

Beautiful plant! Not only is it beautiful, easy to grow and fast but it's a butterfly host plant. I think the Baltimore Checkerspot but I don't really remember... no painted lady.. maybe.

I sowed the seed in mid summer and it grew and bloomed in almost no time and I still have blooms in the fall.

I'm not sure whether or not I have the chelone depicted here because mine doesn't have a solid color, but is a terra cotta mix of pink, orange and yellow.

I am in southeastern Michigan, near Ann Arbor, and I have a huge clump, quite old, and now I'm finding them all over my yard. As far as I can tell, they aren't fussy about conditions, mine are in full sun, not especially moist either. They don't seem to be bothered by pests which is a big plus for me.

I also have a white one but it is struggling and isn't nearly as pretty as the pink. I originally saw Turtlehead growing by the AuSable River near Oscoda but bought my plants (different times) at the Friends of the Botanical Gardens at the University of Michigan.

This plant grows in Zone 4, too.

I am almost positive that this plant grew well in upper New York State when I was growing up. It required almost no care.

Now that I am in Michigan, I hope I can grow it here, too.

Best grown in moist to wet, rich, humusy soils in full sun to part shade. Appreciates a good composted leaf mulch, particularly in full sun areas. Consider pinching back the stem ends in spring to reduce mature plant height, especially if growing plants in strongly shaded areas where they are more likely to need some support. In optimum environments, however, staking is usually not required.

Chelone obliqua has deep pink flowers late summer to fall. Reaches 2-3 feet tall and half as wide. It may need staking if planted in a shady area. Pinch back in early summer to make bushier and produce more flowers.

While most chelone top out at 3' or so, there is one type with white flowers tipped in purplish-pink which can reach six feet or more, if given adequate water, soil, and sun. I have seen that growing wild in northern Alabama.

There are 6 species to this genus. The flowers resemble turtle heads or snapdragons in appearance. Leaves are toothed, broad, opposite and about 6" long. They are cultivated best along streams or ponds but are happy in any moist, rich soil. Part sun/part shade. They grow to about 3' tall and bloom in late summer to early autumn. Flowers are pink/rose and there is a white variety as well. Hardy to zones 6-9. (Although the plant I bought came from a division in zone 4 that has been happily thriving for a few years!)