1 named cultivar

‘Hot Lips’Hot Lips Turtlehead

perennialN. America Native

Turtlehead

The Story

Plant Bio

Chelone lyonii, pink turtlehead, is an upright clumping perennial native to the mountains of the southeastern United States, two to four feet high. Dark green toothed leaves sit in pairs on square stems, and dense terminal spikes of inflated rose-pink flowers open in late summer, each shaped uncannily like a turtle's head with its mouth open.

It is one of the few good perennials for genuinely wet ground, thriving where soil stays damp all season and most border plants rot. It also flowers in late summer, when shade and damp corners are usually finished. It is a larval host for the Baltimore checkerspot butterfly, whose caterpillars depend on turtlehead and a few close relatives.

Uses & Benefits:

Distinctive inflated pink flowers in late summer over clean dark foliage.

One of the best perennials for wet ground and rain gardens, needing no staking if pinched.

A larval host for the Baltimore checkerspot, and a valuable late nectar source for bumblebees.

Essentials

At a Glance

Plant Type

Perennial

Height

30 inches

Width

24 inches

Light

Full Sun, Partial Sun, Shade

Zones

4, 5, 6, 7, 8

Water

High

Humidity

Moderate to high

Lifespan

Perennial

Native To

Southeastern United States

Toxicity

Non-toxic

Planting

How to Grow

Plant in partial shade in consistently moist soil.
Use it in rain gardens and pond margins.
Water through any dry spell; it will not tolerate drought.
Pinch stems in early summer for a bushier plant.
Leave chewed leaves alone — they may be checkerspots.
Divide congested clumps in spring.

Pro Tip

Pinch the stems once in early summer and it branches into far more flower spikes without ever needing staking.

Keep It Thriving

Care Guide

Do

Give it wet or reliably moist ground 💧
Use it in a rain garden 🌧️
Pinch once in early summer ✂️
Leave checkerspot caterpillars alone 🦋

Don't

Let it dry out ❌
Plant it in a hot dry border ❌
Spray caterpillars on it ❌

Seasonal Care Calendar

Task	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Enjoy
Pinch

Watch Out For

Pests & Diseases

Common Pests

Common Diseases

In the Garden

Landscape Uses & Companions

Landscape Uses

Rain garden and pond marginMoist shaded borderNative and butterfly planting

Companion Plants

Joe Pye Weed Cardinal Flower Siberian Iris AstilbeCinnamon Fern

Multiply

Propagation Methods

Good to Know

Common Questions

Turtlehead questions

What zones can Turtlehead grow in?

Turtlehead is hardy in USDA Zones 4–8. Inside that range it survives winter in the ground; outside it, grow it as an annual or a container plant you protect.

Is Turtlehead deer resistant?

Yes — Turtlehead is rated deer-resistant. Deer typically pass it over, though extreme hunger can override any plant's defenses.

When does Turtlehead bloom?

Turtlehead typically blooms in late summer through early fall. Exact timing shifts a week or two with your zone — Sow's bloom calendar maps it to your garden.

Does Turtlehead need full sun?

Turtlehead does best in full sun to part shade. In hot climates, afternoon shade keeps blooms fresher longer.