Chelone L. ‘Hot Lips’ 2Gal

Latin Name: Chelone lyonii 'Hot Lips'

Common Name: Hot Lips Turtlehead

Zones: 3–8

Height & Spread: 24–36 inches tall, spreading 18–24 inches wide

Descriptive Features: A vibrant selection of native pink turtlehead, prized for its rich, deep pink flower color and sturdy, well-branched habit. Glossy, dark green, deeply veined foliage emerges tinged with red in spring and forms an upright, clump-forming mound that holds up well without staking. From late summer into early fall — a valuable time when many other perennials are winding down — snapdragon-like flower spikes bloom in dense clusters at the stem tips, their unusual shape resembling the head of a turtle with its mouth open, hence the common name. The rich rose-pink blooms are a favorite of bumblebees strong enough to pry open the hinged petals for nectar, as well as hummingbirds and butterflies, and also serve as a larval host for the Baltimore checkerspot butterfly. Naturally found in moist woodlands and along streambanks, it thrives with consistent moisture and rich soil, tolerating occasional standing water as well as more typical garden conditions once established. Deer- and rabbit-resistant, low-maintenance, and long-lived. An excellent choice for rain gardens, pond and stream edges, woodland gardens, or the middle to back of moist perennial borders in full sun to part shade.