Sustainable Landscaping with Native Plants

Turtlehead – Chelone Glabra

Achieving and maintaining sustainable landscaping encompasses many areas and different criteria, one of them being the use of Native Plants within the landscape. Chelone Glabra is one such plant that is a native species of our growing area.

Commonly called “turtlehead” and having spikes of elegant white flowers top shiny green foliage in late summer and early fall, Chelone Glabra is an excellent addition to any landscape. The white or blush pink snapdragon-like flowers of Chelone glabra add a marvelous late summer charm to the garden when few other plants are blooming. Flowers are borne in upright, terminal spikes atop plants that ultimately reach 3-4’ tall.

Turtlehead grows well in rich, moist soil that ranges from neutral to slightly acid and thrives in part shade to full sun as long as there is adequate moisture. Turtlehead makes an excellent accent specimen in the naturalistic garden or along streams. The foliage is deer resistant and is an important food and breeding source for butterflies. Chelone Glabra (turtlehead) is a perennial found throughout most of the eastern half of the United States.

Best grown in moist to wet, rich, humus soils in part shade. Appreciates a good composted leaf mulch, particularly in sunny areas. Consider pinching back the stem ends in spring to reduce mature plant height, especially if growing plants in strongly shaded areas where they are more likely to need some support. In optimum environments, however, staking is usually not required.

It is part of the Figwort family (Scrophulariacea) and has the scientific name Chelone glabra. In Greek mythology, there was a nymph named Chelone who insulted the gods; in punishment, she was turned into a turtle. The flowers of this plant are said to look like the heads of turtles. Glabra is from the Latin word meaning smooth because of the lack of hairs or texture on the stems and leaves.