Chelone obliqua (Pink Turtlehead) Unity Grown

Chelone obliqua, commonly referred to as pink, red, or purple turtlehead referring to its spectrum of flower colors, is a perennial wildflower found throughout wetter, low-lying areas in the southeast and midwest, with a few colonies found in western Maryland. Although this species' flowers tend more towards dark pink than red, they are darker in shade than close relative Chelone lyonii (also commonly called pink turtlehead), but are otherwise fairly similar. Chelona obliqua typically grows to 2-3' tall in small clumps 1-2' wide; plants are upright with wide, glossy leaves, and their namesake flowers bloom in large spikes at growth tips throughout the late summer and into the early fall. Turtlehead draws its common name from individual flowers, which resembled the beaked head shape of many turtles.

These uniquely shaped flowers have a complex relationship with pollinators, requiring stronger, larger insects like bumblebees and carpenter bees to wriggle their way between the two lips of the flowers' beaks. Then, later in the season, when flowers have been worked open by earlier pollinators, smaller bees and hummingbirds visit the blooms to gain access to the plants' nectar. Beyond their fascinating ecological appeal, pink turtlehead is a relatively low maintenance and incredibly showy wildflower, only requiring wetter soils and full sun or partial shade to thrive. Chelone obliqua prefers moist, fertile soils, but is no stranger to heavier clay soils, occasional flooding, and even short periods of drought and deer damage, which it can handle in stride. This plants dense, rhizomatic roots enable it to spread slowly over time, and these roots also allow turtlehead to be used for erosion control and wetland restoration projects, making Chelone obliqua a uniquely gorgeous addition to rain gardens, low-lying wildflower meadows, and even woodland gardens while supporting tons of pollinators to boot!