Gro 'n Sell
Chelone (32)
Another great native! Chelone, or "turtle head" is a charming wildflower often found in damp to wet areas. It flowers in late summer to early autumn, just when you need a little excitement in the perennial field. It is tolerant of partial shade. It may take a season or two to gain strength but once established it is a tough plant with a cool looking flower for all uses.
Please note that perennial orders must be placed separately from other plug orders. The minimum order is two trays, which may be mixed and matched with all other perennials in this collection. Learn more about our perennial program here.
About Tray Sizes
210 and 125 cell trays are full-sized trays, and three of these will fit in a shipping box.
50 cell trays are half-sized trays (unless otherwise noted) and two of these are the equivelent of one full sized tray. Six of these will fit in a shipping box.
18 and 32 cell trays are full sized trays specifically for our vernalized perennials. These have their own set of shipping rules (find details HERE) and cannot be combined with items grown in 210, 125, or 50 cell trays.
Growing Guides
Click here to access all of our comprehensive growing guides.
| Common Name | Turtlehead |
| Genus | Chelone |
| Species | C. obliqua, C. glabra, C. lyonii |
| Family | Plantaginaceae (formerly Scrophulariaceae) |
| Life Cycle | Herbaceous perennial (typically 3-5 years), spreading via short rhizomes which are easily controlled. |
| Format | 32 cell plug tray |
| Plug Care | Transplant plugs swiftly upon arrival, ensuring crowns remain at soil level and not below. Press soil gently and water thoroughly. Maintain consistently moist soil throughout establishment - avoid drought stress. |
| Netting / Staking | Typically unnecessary - plants remain upright; however, in shadier conditions they may stretch and benefit from netting. |
| Temperature Range | Hardy zones 3–9 (C. glabra, C. lyonii), C. obliqua prefers zones 5–9. They thrive in cool to moderate climates and struggle under high heat and drought. |
| Spacing | Space plugs 12–18″ apart, after a couple seasons of growth the plants will merge into a solid row. |
| Soil Preference | Rich, humus-rich, well-drained yet consistently moist soil; pH slightly acidic to neutral (6.0–7.0). Thrives in boggy or woodland-edge conditions. |
| Day Length | Long-day plants. Provide full sun in moist climates; partial shade preferred in warmer or drier regions to prevent drought stress. |
| Pinching | Pinching is not necessary, but a mid-spring prune in shaded plantings helps maintain compact form and minimize flopping. |
| When to Plant | Transplant in spring or early summer into moist beds. Doing so provides time for establishment ahead of flowering season. |
| Harvesting | Cut stems when flower racemes are in mid-bloom and not fully open. While not a traditional cut flower, early morning harvest yields up to 7-10 days vase life with the use of a floral preservative. |
| Post Harvest Care | Cut stems should immediately be placed into a bucket of cool, clean water. Use a floral preservative solution, and hold in a cooler to maintain freshness. |
| Diseases / Insects | These plants are quite hardy and disease resistant. That said, monitor for the typical plant pests such as powdery mildew, rust, leaf spot, slugs, and snails. As with all plants, ensure good airflow and avoid overhead watering to reduce the chances of foliar disease. Deer tend to avoid them. |
| Bailey's Notes | These flowers are not grown on a commercial scale for the cut flower industry, which offers a unique opportunity to offer your local market with a new and exciting product. They are also virtually care-free once mature which is the best kind of crop you can grow! |
| Resources | N/A |