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Shellflower Chelone obliqua var. speciosa

Other Common Name(s):

Phonetic Spelling
kay-LOH-nee oh-BLEEK-wuh spee-see-OH-suh
Description

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:
Tags:
#hummingbird friendly#showy flowers#full sun tolerant#fall flowers#pink flowers#stream banks#summer flowers#dappled sunlight#herbaceous perennial#pond garden#wet soils tolerant#partial shade tolerant#bee friendly#woodland
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#hummingbird friendly#showy flowers#full sun tolerant#fall flowers#pink flowers#stream banks#summer flowers#dappled sunlight#herbaceous perennial#pond garden#wet soils tolerant#partial shade tolerant#bee friendly#woodland
  • 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.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Herbaceous Perennial
    Perennial
    Habit/Form:
    Clumping
    Erect
    Growth Rate:
    Medium
    Maintenance:
    Medium
  • 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
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Meadow
    Pond
    Woodland
    Landscape Theme:
    Pollinator Garden
    Rain Garden
    Attracts:
    Bees
    Hummingbirds
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Wet Soil