Pink Turtlehrad

Description:  Pink Turtlehead is a clump-forming perennial wildflower native to eastern North America. Its hooded flowers resemble snapdragon blooms. Turtlehead plants grow best in boggy areas but can also grow well in a shaded home garden with about four hours of sunlight, rich, moist soil, and temperate climate. Their leaves are dark green, toothed, and oval-shaped and have upright-standing stems that feature blooms from summer to fall. The flower gets its common name from its resemblance to a turtle's head, but the species and genus name "Chelone" dates back to a story in ancient Greek mythology. The nymph, Chelone, did not attend the marriage of Zeus and Hera, so she and her house were tossed into a river, where she transformed into a tortoise who carried her house on her back. For more information see: plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/chelone-obliqua

Care and Growing Tips:  As a woodland flower, turtlehead blooms best in partial shade. In nature, it typically grows in the filtered light beneath a canopy of trees. However, the plant can grow in full sun if its soil is not allowed to dry out completely. Turtlehead plants prefer moist, organically rich soil, with a acidic soil pH level less then 6.