TurtleheadChelone glabra
Robust perennial herb that is 1-3' tall, and often grows as a single stem topped with a cluster of large, white flowers. Turtlehead is widely known as a landscape plant for mesic to wet gardens. It is also well suited for wetland restorations, rain gardens, and lake-edge restorations, especially in calcareous and peaty conditions. Many cultivars have been produced that may be mistakenly used in wetland restorations.
USDA symbol: CHGL2
General Information
| Plant Type | Forb |
|---|---|
| Height | 3 feet |
| Light Exposure | Sun, Part Sun |
| Soil Moisture | Medium |
| Bloom Color | White |
Tolerances
| Flooding / Inundation Tolerance | Moderate |
|---|---|
| General Resilience | 6 |
| Salt Tolerance | None |
Pollinator Value: High
| Bloom Months | July to September |
|---|---|
| Larval Host of | Butterflies |
| Specific Pollinators Hosted | Euphydryas phaeton |
| Pollinator Benefit | Insect Pollinated, Provides Nectar, Supports Specialists |
Project Planning
| Project Type | Rain Garden, Restoration, Sandy or Engineered Soils, Shoreline Buffer |
|---|---|
| Coefficient of Conservatism | 8 |
| Herbivore Sensitivity | Low |
| Lifespan | Perennial |
| Rate of Spread | Fast |
| Soil Stabilization | Shallow |
| Vegetative Reproduction | Clonal |
Range
| County | Aitkin, Anoka, Beltrami, Benton, Blue Earth, Carlton, Carver, Cass, Chisago, Clearwater, Cook, Cottonwood, Crow Wing, Dakota, Fillmore, Goodhue, Hennepin, Houston, Isanti, Kandiyohi, Koochiching, Lake, Lake of the Woods, Le Sueur, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Mower, Nicollet, Olmsted, Pine, Ramsey, Rice, Roseau, Sherburne, St. Louis, Stearns, Steele, Wabasha, Wadena, Washington, Winona, Wright |
|---|---|
| Ecoregion | Driftless Area, Lake Agassiz Plain, North Central Hardwood Forests, Northern Lakes and Forests, Northern Minnesota Wetlands, Western Cornbelt Plains |
| Approximate Eco Province | Eastern Broadleaf Forest, Laurentian Mixed Forest, Prairie Parkland, Tallgrass Aspen Parklands |