Shellflower Chelone obliqua var. speciosa
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Shellflower:
- Phonetic Spelling
- kay-LOH-nee oh-BLEEK-wuh spee-see-OH-suh
- Description
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Shellflower is a herbaceous perennial found in the wet rich soils in the central U.S.A. but not native to NC. However, it will happily grow here. In Aug.- Sept the rose-pink 'turtlehead' flowers appear on 1-3-foot terminal spikes.
This plant prefers moist to occasionally wet clay to loam soils with plenty of organic matter. It tolerates full sun to dappled sun conditions. Use this plant in a wet meadow or woodland setting or other wet sites as along ponds and streams. It attracts bees and hummingbirds.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Chelone
- Species:
- obliqua
- Family:
- Plantaginaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- U.S.A.
- Wildlife Value:
- Flowers attract bees and hummingbirds.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Perennial
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- 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 Drainage:
- Moist
- Occasionally Wet
- NC Region:
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- 1/2 inch long oval seed capsule spits to release seeds.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Spike
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Lipped
- Flower Petals:
- fused petals
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- 1-1.5 inch pink to lavender 2-lipped blooms. The upper lip has the shape of a broad hood, while the lower lip has 3 outer lobes. There is a patch of white or pale yellow hairs behind the lower lip. Blooms late summer to early fall.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Leaf Margin:
- Dentate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- 6-7 inches long by 2-2.5 inches wide lance-shaped green leaves with toothed margins. Undersurface is paler green.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Round
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- Smooth light green stems, usually unbranched unless broken.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Meadow
- Pond
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Pollinator Garden
- Rain Garden
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Hummingbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Wet Soil
