What does a turtle head flower look like?

Turtlehead (Chelone glabra) The flowers of this plant are said to look like the heads of turtles. The plant has a square stem with leaves that are opposite, toothed, and narrow. White flowers, often with a pink tinge, appear between mid summer and fall. The flowers are irregular, two-lipped and grow in dense spikes.

Where do turtle heads grow?

Turtlehead is best grown in full sun in the Midwest but tolerates some shade. It prefers rich, moist to wet soil, although most types tolerate drier soil once established.

How do you take care of a turtle head plant?

Turtlehead Garden Care If you have a moist place in your landscape, these flowers will be right at home, although they are hardy enough to grow in dry soil as well. In addition to moist soil, growing turtlehead Chelone also requires a soil pH that is neutral and either full sun or part shade.

Is Turtle Head plant invasive?

It’s kept in check there, not that it’s an invasive plant – just large. Turtlehead is a clump-forming perennial with multiple stems close to a metre high – and last week almost a couple of metres across.

What is Turtle Head?

Turtle head is a plant. The parts of the plant that grow above the ground are used to make medicine. Be careful not to confuse turtle head (Chelone glabra) with red turtle head (Chelone obliqua). People take turtle head to treat constipation and empty the bowels.

What is a turtle head flower?

Turtlehead is a clump-forming perennial plant that blooms in fall with hooded flowers that look similar to snapdragon blooms. The flower gets its unique name from its resemblance to a turtle’s beak, but the genius name dates back to ancient Greece mythology and the nymph named Chelone.

How do Turtleheads spread?

Turtlehead grows from rhizomes, bulb-like stems that spread horizontally underground. As the bulbous roots grow, they develop new plantlets. Turtlehead also grows from seed, and it will self-seed, too.

How do you prune turtle heads?

Once your turtlehead plant has established itself, pinch the tips of each shoot to train the plant to grow bushy and produce showy blooms. If your plants start to get floppy, prune or pinch back the stems of established plants in mid-spring—this will cause the plant to become more compact, but fuller and showier.

Do Turtle Head plants spread?

Size & Growth. The turtlehead plant can attain a height of 2′ to 3′ feet tall and spread as wide as 3′ feet.

Do you cut back turtle head in the fall?

Turtleheads grow in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 3 through 9. Trimming back the plants in fall removes the old seed pods and maintains the plant’s shape, which prevents self-seeding and improves the appearance of the sleeping winter garden.

Where does the term turtle head come from?

turtle head 1. To pop one’s head up behind or out from within something, in a manner resembling a turtle’s head emerging from its shell. Everyone started turtle heading in their cubicles to see where the music was coming from. People around the campsite began to turtle head from their tents to see what was happening.

Are turtle heads poisonous?

Is The Turtlehead Considered Toxic or Poisonous? This medicinal plant is not toxic, but should be handled with care.

How tall does a turtlehead plant grow to be?

Turtlehead ( Chelone glabra) Turtlehead is a perennial found throughout most of the eastern half of the United States. It generally is found along stream banks and damp ground, and usually grows to a height of 2 to 3 feet. The plant has a square stem with leaves that are opposite, toothed, and narrow.

What makes a flower look like a turtle?

Turtlehead ( 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.

What kind of flower does a pink turtlehead plant have?

Chelone Iyonii (pink turtlehead): This varietal has long stems that give the species an open, bushy appearance. Its flowers range from light pink to deep rose to red and it’s more adaptable to dry climates than most other varieties. Red turtlehead: Red turtlehead is similar to pink turtlehead, but with longer, more narrow leaves.

When to collect the flowers from a turtlehead tree?

Since turtlehead blooms late in the season, there is no reason to deadhead spent flowers. You can leave the flowers to dry, and then collect the seeds if you like. Turtlehead is easily propagated by lifting the clumps and dividing the root mass. In cooler climates, this is best done in the early spring.