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Red Turtlehead

Chelone obliqua

Red turtlehead bears rose-pink, turtle-head-shaped flowers in late summer over moist, sunny-to-shaded ground, a key larval host for the Baltimore checkerspot and a bumblebee favorite. Excellent for rain gardens.

Family
Plantaginaceae
Type
wildflower
Lifespan
perennial
Height
2–3 ft
Spacing
1–2 ft apart
Light
sun, part shade
Soil moisture
wet, moist
Soil pH
acidic, neutral
Bloom
August, September
Bloom colors
pink, purple
Wildlife value
pollinators, hummingbirds, butterflies, larval host
Landscape uses
border, rain garden, erosion control, naturalizing
Native states
IL, IN, KY, MD, MO, NC, VA