Turtle Head - Chelone lyonii

Attracted Pollinators: Butterflies

Duration: Perennial

Size: 24-48" high; 18-30" spread

Growing Conditions:

- Light Exposure: full sun to partial shade

- Water Use: moderate to wet

- Soil: neutral pH, fairly moist, well drained, rich in nutrient content and humus

The turtle head is a tall stalky plant native to the southeastern United States, preferring the wet woodland habitats of the southern Appalachian Mountains, though it has naturalized itself in the northeast. The two-lipped, oblong flowers are typically light pink or white in color and form cone-shaped aggregations at the ends of the its thick, boxy stems. Turtle Heads tend to grow in clumps and are capable of spreading rhizomatically.