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Plantaginaceae
Pink Turtlehead
Chelone lyonii
Patience, slow progress, and quiet strength.
- Family
- Plantaginaceae
- Genus
- Chelone
- Native to
- southeastern United States
- Bloom season
- Late Summer, Fall
- Type
- herbaceous perennial
- Height
- 60–120 cm
- Sunlight
- part shade to full sun
- Soil
- moist, fertile
- Water
- high; loves consistently moist soil
- Hardiness
- 3–8
- Lifespan
- perennial; long-lived clumps
Did you know
- The name 'turtlehead' comes from the flower's shape — squeeze the sides and the 'mouth' opens like a snapping turtle.
- Chelone comes from the Greek word for tortoise, reinforcing the turtle-like flower resemblance.
- It is the sole host plant for the Baltimore checkerspot butterfly larvae, making it critical for that species' survival.
- The flowers are pollinated almost exclusively by bumblebees, which are heavy enough to pry open the closed lips.
- It thrives at the edges of streams and bogs where most garden perennials would drown.
Color meanings
Pink
patient endurance
Rose-Purple
dignified determination