description Turtlehead Overview
Turtlehead commonly refers to North American perennials in the genus Chelone, especially white turtlehead, Chelone glabra. These wetland plants bear dense clusters of two-lipped flowers whose closed shape resembles a turtle's head, and they grow along streams, marshes, and other moist sites. White turtlehead is an important larval host for the Baltimore checkerspot butterfly and is cultivated in rain gardens and consistently damp native plantings.
insights Ranking position
Turtlehead ranks #42 of 341 in the Wildflower ranking, behind Cup Plant, ahead of Maximilian Sunflower.
help Turtlehead FAQ
Why is Chelone called turtlehead?
Its tightly closed, two-lipped flowers resemble a turtle's head with its mouth partly open. Chelone glabra usually bears white or pale pink flowers, while related garden species can produce deeper pink blooms.
Does turtlehead need wet soil?
Turtlehead performs best in consistently moist soil and naturally occurs beside streams, in marshes and in wet woodland. It can grow in ordinary garden soil if it is not allowed to dry out for long periods.
What butterfly uses white turtlehead as a host plant?
Chelone glabra is a larval host for the Baltimore checkerspot butterfly. The caterpillars feed on its foliage, making the plant particularly valuable in eastern North American wetland gardens.
Will deer eat turtlehead plants?
Turtlehead is often described as relatively deer-resistant because its foliage has a bitter quality. Resistance is not absolute, and hungry deer may still browse young Chelone shoots.
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