Chelone glabra
Smooth turtlehead, Snakehead
Also known as Chelone obliqua var. alba
- Height × spread
- 0.8m × 0.5m
- Position
- Full sun
- Hardiness
- Colder than -20C (RHS H7)
- Flowers
- Summer, Autumn
Availability
Please ask in store about availability
Many plants are seasonal. Call 01234 567890 to check current stock.
About this plant
Sturdy looking, quite compact plants that have upright stems and long, paired, oblong leaves that arch out from the stems. The flowers are held in small clusters at the stem top. These are chunky and tubular with a noticeable larger lower lip. The flower shape gives rise to the popular name 'Turtle's head'. In this form the flowers are creamy white and the plant appears cool and solid when well grown. It should flower during August and September.
- Flower colour
- White
- Foliage colour
- Green
- Variegated
- No
- Scent
- No
- Shape
- Column
- Height
- 0.8m
- Spread
- 0.5m
- Season of interest
- Summer, Autumn
- Flowers in
- Summer, Autumn
- Evergreen
- Deciduous
- Garden style
- Wild flower meadow, Small scale garden
- Sun or shade
- Likes full sun, likes part shade, tolerates light shade
- Soil type
- Chalk, Loam (normal)
- Soil pH
- All types
- Drainage
- Moisture retentive soil, Damp and wet soil, Well drained soil
- Hardiness
- Colder than -20C (RHS H7)
- Borders & containers
- Borders
- Hazards
- No
Spring
Spring · Outdoors
Apply an organic mulch
Apply a 5-10cm layer of organic mulch around the plant in spring to reduce weeds, retain moisture and keep roots cool in summer. Leave a 10cm gap between the stem and the mulch to prevent stem rot. Before applying mulch, clear the area of weeds and water if it hasn't rained recently. Use biodegradable material such as garden compost, well-rotted manure, leaf mould or bark chippings as mulch.
A mulch is a covering that can: protect the soil surface from rain, heat and cold; deter weeds; provide nutrients. Organic indicates that material has vegetative origin e.g. manure, compost. Synthetics i.e. plastics, or stones are often called mulches.
Spring-Autumn · Outdoors
Water frequently to keep the soil moist
The plant thrives in moist or boggy soil, doesn't tolerate dryness and should be watered frequently, not only after a period of drought, but if the soil begins to dry out spring to autumn. Check plants in pots more frequently, especially in hot weather.
Spring - early-mid · Planting
Divide when too large
The plant can be divided if it becomes too large or another plant is required. This may involve physically dividing the clump in two, removing offsets or small bulbs or dividing rhizomes. The new plants can be grown in pots or planted in the ground.
Found in
More Chelone
Chelone
Shell flower, Turtlehead
Chelone obliqua
Shell flower, Cod head, Bitter herb, Salt rheum weed, Fish mouth, Balmony, Red turtlehead
Chelone lyonii
Lyon's turtlehead, Pink turtlehead, Red turtlehead, Shell flower
Chelone obliqua
Snakehead, Cod head, Bitter herb, Salt rheum weed, Fish mouth, Balmony, Red turtlehead