White Turtlehead Chelone Glabra Flower

The name turtlehead is due to the flower's resemblance to the head of a turtle. The elegant pure white flowers are held on strong stems. Plants are drought-tolerant, and easy to grow, forming tidy clumps. Chelone is a genus of perennial herbaceous plants native to North America.

Name: Turtlehead
Scientific Name: Chelone Glabra
Color: White
Plant Seeds: Fall / Cold Stratify 2-3 Months
Bloom Time: Aug - Sept
Hardiness Zone: 3 - 8
Plant Height: 36 - 48"
Plant Spacing: 18 - 24"
Light Requirements: Sun
Soil and Water Preferences: Wet

Germination

As with many perennial seeds, these seeds require a period of moist cold to help them break dormancy. This is done by giving them a cold 'winter' period (artificial or natural), and then warming to simulate 'spring', and time to grow! Here's how this can be done:

Obtain a planting container that has holes in the bottom for excess water to drain. Place the seeds just under the surface of your growing medium, and water. Place your container in a cold area (but not freezing, perhaps a refrigerator) for 4-6 weeks.

Once the cold period is completed, place the container at room temperature for them to germinate. Be sure to keep the soil moist during this entire germination period. Seedlings will sprout a few weeks after the warming period.

Pros and cons

• Drought resistant
• Flowering