Pink Turtlehead Chelone lyonii
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- kay-LOH-nee ly-ON-ee-eye
- Description
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Pink Turtlehead is a native wildflower with a very tidy clumping habit. It is in the figwort family and It is found in rich, moist soils in sun to part shade in wet woods and along streams in the southern Appalachian Mountains. Even though it's native range is small it is adaptable to home gardens and has naturalized in other areas.
It does best in cool climate summers in part shade with protection from the hot afternoon sun. The more shade it is grown in the more likely it will need to be staked. Pinch stems to promote a more busy growth. Plant with plenty of organic matter in medium to wet soils.
The deep pink blooms appear late summer into fall and are on tightly clustered terminal racemes. The blooms are similar to snapdragons in appearance.
Works well in a woodland setting and moist sites along bogs, ponds or streams. They can be used in borders and mass plantings as long as the moisture requirements are met.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Hot Lips'
Reddish stem and deeper pink blooms
- 'Hot Lips'
- 'Hot Lips'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Hot Lips'
Reddish stem and deeper pink blooms
- 'Hot Lips'
- 'Hot Lips'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Chelone
- Species:
- lyonii
- Family:
- Plantaginaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- South Eastern U.S.A
- Distribution:
- USA: AL , CT , MA , ME , MS , NC , NY , SC , TN , WV
- Wildlife Value:
- Deer resistant
- Dimensions:
- Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 6 in. - 2 ft. 6 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Perennial
- Wildflower
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- 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:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Soil pH:
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Moist
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- 1/2 inch long oval seed capsules are initial green and turn darker shades of brown when the seeds approach maturity. It splits to release seeds. Fruit displays in October.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Good Cut
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Tubular
- Flower Petals:
- 2-3 rays/petals
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- Up to 1-in., deep pink to rose-purple flowers with 2 petals bloom in dense racemes. The lower lip is bearded with deep yellow hairs. Blooms July- September.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- 3 to 7 inches long and 2 inches across medium to dark green egg-shaped leaves are rounded at base with pointed tips. The margins are sharply toothed. The lower surface is pale green.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Round
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- Light green central stems
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Pond
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rain Garden
- Water Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Hummingbirds
- Pollinators
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Wet Soil