Chelone lyonii
Lyon's turtlehead, Pink turtlehead, Red turtlehead, Shell flower
Also known as Chelone insigne 'Pink Turle'
- Height × spread
- 0.6m × 0.3m
- 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
A pleasing and rather solid plant with quite large leaves. These are broad and elliptic and have toothy edges. They are held in pairs, arching out from the upright stalk. At the stem top are the clusters of small flowers, likened in appearance to the head of a turtle and coloured a bright slightly purplish-pink. If one peers into the flowers mouth a small yellow coloured beard is apparent. This flowers in late summer. It is a plant that grows naturally on the banks of streams and likes a partially shady site, tolerant of light shade or full sun in cooler areas where there is plenty of moisture. It likes deep humus rich soil, preferably acidic, that is moist to wet.
- Flower colour
- Lavender, Pink, Purple
- Foliage colour
- Green
- Variegated
- No
- Scent
- No
- Shape
- Column
- Height
- 0.6m
- Spread
- 0.3m
- Season of interest
- Summer, Autumn
- Flowers in
- Summer, Autumn
- Evergreen
- Deciduous
- Garden style
- Small scale garden
- Sun or shade
- Likes full sun, likes part shade, tolerates light shade
- Soil type
- Loam (normal)
- Soil pH
- Acid (ericaceous), Neutral
- 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.
Planting & general
Outdoors
Water with rain water
This plant needs rain water or soft water (the minerals in alkaline or "hard" water are harmful). This is especially important for plants in pots.
Compost · Planting
Ericaceous compost
This plant requires acidic (ericaceous) soil. Where the soil is not acidic, or when planting in pots, use an ericaceous compost.
Found in
More Chelone
Chelone
Shell flower, Turtlehead
Chelone glabra
Smooth turtlehead, Snakehead
Chelone obliqua
Shell flower, Cod head, Bitter herb, Salt rheum weed, Fish mouth, Balmony, Red turtlehead
Chelone obliqua
Snakehead, Cod head, Bitter herb, Salt rheum weed, Fish mouth, Balmony, Red turtlehead