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Chelone glabra

Common Name(s):

Phonetic Spelling
kay-LOH-nee GLAY-bruh
Description

White Turtlehead is a native, clump-forming wildflower found in moist areas along stream banks, open woodlands, fens, flood plains and marshes. The blooms appear on 6-8 inch spikes and open from bottom to top in late summer to fall. 

 

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#hummingbird friendly#showy flowers#rain garden#white flowers#pond margins#NC native#herbaceous perennial#native garden#pollinator plant#native wildflower#marshes#larval host plant#food source fall#Coastal OBL#food source herbage#food source nectar#Piedmont Mountains OBL#wet soils tolerant#butterfly friendly#bee friendly#Audubon#baltimore checkerspot butterfly#common buckeye butterfly#perennial#wildflower#wildlife friendly
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#hummingbird friendly#showy flowers#rain garden#white flowers#pond margins#NC native#herbaceous perennial#native garden#pollinator plant#native wildflower#marshes#larval host plant#food source fall#Coastal OBL#food source herbage#food source nectar#Piedmont Mountains OBL#wet soils tolerant#butterfly friendly#bee friendly#Audubon#baltimore checkerspot butterfly#common buckeye butterfly#perennial#wildflower#wildlife friendly
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Chelone
    Species:
    glabra
    Family:
    Plantaginaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    SE. Canada, N. Central & E. U.S.A
    Distribution:
    USA: AL , AR , CT , DC , DE , GA , IA , IL , IN , KY , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , MO , MS , NC , NH , NJ , NY , OH , PA , RI , SC , TN , VA , VT , WI , WV Canada: NB , NL , NS , ON , PE , QC
    Wildlife Value:
    This plant attracts hummingbirds, butterflies, bees, and other pollinators. Also supports Baltimore Checkerspot (Euphydryas phaeton) which has one brood from May-June in the south and June-August in the north. It also supports Common Buckeye (Junonia coenia) which has two to three broods from May-October except in the deep south where it can be seen all year. Common Buckeye rarely uses this host plant in North Carolina.
    Dimensions:
    Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Herbaceous Perennial
    Native Plant
    Perennial
    Wildflower
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Erect
    Growth Rate:
    Medium
    Maintenance:
    Low
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    High Organic Matter
    Soil pH:
    Alkaline (>8.0)
    Neutral (6.0-8.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Moist
    Occasionally Wet
    Available Space To Plant:
    12 inches-3 feet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
  • Fruit:
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Fall
    Fruit Type:
    Capsule
    Fruit Description:
    Oval seed capsule containing several seeds that are flattened and broadly winged. Fruit displays from September to November.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Pink
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Raceme
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Fall
    Summer
    Flower Shape:
    Tubular
    Flower Petals:
    2-3 rays/petals
    Flower Size:
    1-3 inches
    Flower Description:
    A tight cluster of white 1-1.5 in., two-lipped flowers appears at tops of stems from July to October. The upper lip arches over lower lip similar to a snapdragon or turtlehead. Petals can be pink-tinged.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Opposite
    Leaf Shape:
    Lanceolate
    Leaf Margin:
    Serrate
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    3-6 inches
    Leaf Width:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Description:
    3-6 in., narrow, sharply toothed, paired leaves are turned 90 degrees from the pair below them. They are stalkless or nearly so.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Green
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Cross Section:
    Round
    Stem Description:
    Green stems can be round or square
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Pond
    Woodland
    Landscape Theme:
    Butterfly Garden
    Native Garden
    Pollinator Garden
    Rain Garden
    Shade Garden
    Water Garden
    Attracts:
    Bees
    Butterflies
    Hummingbirds
    Pollinators
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Wet Soil