White turtlehead (Chelone glabra) Plants

In late-summer, patches of dark green foliage are topped with creamy white 1 inch long flowers that look like a turtle’s head. Bumble bees squeeze their head into the “lips” to sip nectar and pollinate the flowers. Hummingbirds also visit its flowers. It is a host plant for several kinds of butterflies. Requires moist to wet soil, a great late summer addition to a native landscape. Creeps slowly from the roots to make patches.

Native to: Maine - Eastern North America

Growing conditions: Sun to shade, moist to wet soil.

Natural habitat: Moist to wet meadows, thickets and wooded stream sides.

Grows up to:  1-3’

Blooms: Late summer

Pairs well with: Great blue lobelia ( Lobelia siphilitica) and blue flag iris ( Iris versicolor).